News Releases

Chattanooga firefighters worked in scorching temperatures to quickly mitigate a hazmat incident in busy area of Hixson on Friday afternoon. At 2 PM on 8/25/23, Blue Shift companies responded to the Walgreens at 5478 Highway 153 on a container leaking a hazardous material in the back of a FedEx truck parked in front of the business. The Walgreens was evacuated and nearby roads were temporarily closed down as a precaution to isolate the area. The material leaking was a corrosive liquid. A full hazmat response was initiated and once the hazmat team arrived, they contained the leak and turned the scene over to an environmental company to finish the cleanup process. There were no injuries. CPD and HCEMS assisted the CFD. Several firefighters were evaluated by EMS due to the heat index being 105-109 degrees. This was considered a minor hazmat incident because of the size of the leak and there was no impact or threat to the surrounding area.

Green Shift companies worked a house fire in the 1100 block of E 32nd St at 4AM on 8/25/23. There were no injuries. The residents smelled smoke and escaped. They were out of the structure upon the CFD's arrival. Three family members were displaced and will be receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Engine 9, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 1, Quint 14 and Battalion 1 responded. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Chattanooga Fire Department hosted an 80-hour structural collapse specialist class that teaches rescuers to be able to assist and mitigate a structural collapse incident. Students began the course with learning how to lift, move, break, and breach different types of heavy objects that they would encounter in a collapse situation. They also learned how to turn the collapsed structure from an unstable, to stable environment in order to begin rescue operations. This class is vital for our regional USAR team. Structural collapse capabilities have come into play in recent years following natural disasters like tornadoes, and other instances when structures have been compromised by car wrecks, for example. It’s also part of our USAR Team’s deployment capabilities in the event that they’re called to a structural collapse in this region. There were 22 participants in the class, including firefighters and members of law enforcement. Agencies represented include: Chattanooga FD, Cleveland, TN Fire Department, Soddy Daisy Fire Department, Red Bank Fire Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Bradley County Fire & Rescue.

The final exercise created a “real life” scenario at a property on Highway 153 that the CFD has received permission to use as a training site. It simulated a wreck involving a car that left the roadway and struck a residence, trapping several victims. Students were tasked with problem solving using their newly acquired collapse specialist skills. All of the techniques they learned were used to conduct the mock rescue safely and effectively. Members of the class will continue learning in September with confined space training and trench rescue in October.

Local public safety agencies took part in an active shooter training exercise at Chattanooga State Community College on Wednesday. It provided a realistic setting for the drill and allowed for collaboration between first responders on a large-scale emergency incident. The CFD, CPD, campus police, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911, Erlanger Hospital, and Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security participated in the training exercise. Months of planning went into the event and hundreds of people were involved.