News Releases

Four people were taken to the hospital Saturday morning from the scene of a house fire in Alton Park. CFD Red Shift companies were called to the 3700 block of Dorris Street at 5AM on 6/3/23. Quint 14 got on the scene and received reports of at least one victim trapped inside the residence. They made entry and started searching, locating an elderly, wheelchair-bound woman on the floor in the back bedroom. She had activated her medical alert device, notifying 911 that she was still inside her home. Quint 14 personnel carried her outside and started treating her with oxygen. The victim’s son and his infant twins made it out of the burning home after he broke a window and crawled out of it with his babies, suffering lacerations to his arms in the process. He took the twins to a nearby relative’s home and rushed back to the scene to try to save his mother. He broke her bedroom window with a brick, but there was too much smoke and he could not get to her. Thankfully, firefighters had her out within minutes. All four victims (mother, son and two grandchildren) suffered smoke inhalation and were transported to the hospital for observation. As Quint 14 was doing their search and rescue, Squad 1 and Battalion 1 arrived. Battalion 1 took command and Squad 1 established a supply line. Ladder 1 stretched an attack line from Quint 14 and went inside to combat the fire and protect 14’s crew. Squad 1 then did a secondary search. The fire was brought under control in a few minutes. EMS arrived on scene and began treating the victims. Then ventilation was established and overhaul began. Quint 1 searched the other side of the duplex, which was vacant. The fire caused significant damage to the structure. It appears to be accidental and electrical in nature. Quint 14, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 1, Engine 9, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CFD investigators, HCEMS, and CPD responded.

The home where this fire occurred is directly across the street from a house that burned last week on 5/25/23, displacing six people. The May 25th fire was caused by a malfunctioning dryer.

Dorris St rescue

Green Shift firefighters worked a two-car motor vehicle accident on Tuesday 5/30/23 just before 9AM on 4th Avenue at the 24 Westbound off ramp. One vehicle rollover with one patient trapped. Engine 5, Ladder 5, Squad 1, Squad 13 and Battalion 1 responded, along with CFD Operations Chief. It took crews 10-12 minutes to extricate the patient. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

4th Ave extrication

Chattanooga firefighters tackled a fire on Memorial Day at a house on Olive Street. At 8:30 PM on 5/29/23, Red Shift companies were called to a residence in the 1700 block. Smoke was coming from the eaves and flames were spotted at the back of the home. All of the residents were out of the structure upon CFD’s arrival. Firefighters made a quick attack and knockdown on the fire in the attic, getting it under control by 8:53 PM. Then they did reassessments to make sure they got to the seat of the fire and extinguished all hotspots. The cause of the fire is unknown. The American Red Cross will be assisting two adults and one child displaced by the fire. Engine 4, Ladder 5, Engine 5, Quint 10, Squad 1, Squad 13, Battalion 1, and Battalion 3 responded, along with CPD, EPB and HCEMS.

Olive St house fire

Six people were displaced by a house fire in Alton Park Thursday due to a malfunctioning dryer. At 10:40 AM on 5/25/23, CFD Blue Shift companies were called to a home in the 3700 block of Dorris Street and spotted heavy smoke from several blocks away. On the scene, firefighters found flames coming from the back of the structure. A resident had tried to put the fire out with an extinguisher, but it spread too quickly so she rushed to get her family members and pets out of their burning home. Crews made an aggressive interior attack and had the fire under control by 11:04 AM. They then pulled ceilings to check for extension and monitored hot spots. The contents of the residence are a total loss and there’s damage to the structure. Three adults and three children will be receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. There were no injuries. Engine 9, Engine 5, Ladder 1, Quint 1, Squad 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, CPD, EPB and HCEMS responded.

Dorris St fire May 2023

Chattanooga firefighters rescued a car crash victim trapped after a wreck on North Access Road Saturday. At 12:37 PM on 5/20/23, Red Shift companies responded to the 4600 block on a motor vehicle crash with entrapment and found one person pinned inside. Ladder 19, Squad 19, and Squad 7 personnel successfully extricated the patient and they were transported by HCEMS to the hospital. A toddler was also taken to the hospital from the scene. The extent of the victims’ injuries is unknown.

N Access Rd extrication