03-19-15 Police Officers Rescue Family from Fire

The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 3:01 a.m. and responded to 1207 Crutchfield Street with five fire companies.

Thanks to some Chattanooga police officers, the three adults and one child who were in the house are still alive. Details are still being obtained on exactly what happened, but Lt. Darwin Sanders with Quint 10 said the family could not get out of the house, because fire was blocking their way out the front and back doors, and all the windows were blocked by security bars. Lt. Sanders said three Chattanooga police officers ran around the house and located the family, trapped in a back bedroom. They reportedly used a crowbar to pull off the security bars and then helped each family member through the small window (see photo).

Lt. Sanders said the family members appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation, and at least one had a few relatively minor cuts while getting through the window. All of the victims were transported by Hamilton County EMS to Erlanger Medical Center. An update on their condition was not available, but firefighters on the scene say their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

A fire investigator is on the scene, getting more details on what happened and trying to determine what started the fire.