photo by Battalion Chief Chris Willmore
photo by Battalion Chief Chris Willmore
Chattanooga firefighters prevented a house from being destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. The firefighters were dispatched around 1 p.m. to a reported vehicle fire in a garage at 2111 Cleveland Ave.
Upon arrival, Lt.
John Meadows with Engine 5 said the garage was fully engulfed in flames, and was beginning to spread to the adjacent house.
As additional fire companies arrived on the scene, Battalion Chief Chris Willmore, the incident commander, said they attacked the fire aggressively and managed to contain the fire to the car and garage area. Chief Willmore said there was only minor fire damage to the house itself. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire will be ruled accidental. Chief Willmore said the adult man who lived there was in the process of removing the fuel tank from the vehicle when fuel spilled out, came into contact with a flood light, and ignited.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the man who lived there. The loss was estimated at roughly $20,000.
In a second fire, shortly after 2 p.m., Chattanooga firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire at 314 W. 38th Street. There was initially no sign of a fire when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. Once inside, however, Lt. Mack Ridge with Quint 14 confirmed that there was a fire in the kitchen.
Battalion Chief Chris Willmore, the incident commander, said the firefighters made a quick interior attack and contained the fire to the kitchen area. No one was home and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.