Chattanooga, TN – At 2:24 a.m. on December 15, 2024, the Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a car fire at 830 Eastgate Loop. Upon arrival, Ladder 13’s crew discovered a car fully engulfed in flames under the drive-thru awning of the EPB payment building. The fire had already begun spreading into the structure, prompting Ladder 13 to upgrade the call to a commercial fire.
A full response team was dispatched to extinguish the flames. Chattanooga police officers on the scene prior to the fire department’s arrival informed CFD crews that an individual had been sleeping in the car and using a propane heater. The heater caused the vehicle to catch fire, leaving the occupant with burn injuries. The injured individual was transported to the hospital by Hamilton County EMS.
Responding units included Ladder 13, Squad 13, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 8, Engine 21, Engine 15, Battalion 2 (Blue Shift), and CFD Investigations. Captain Michael Montieth, acting Battalion Chief for District 2, captured photos of the scene.
This incident underscores the dangers of using heaters in enclosed spaces and highlights the coordinated response efforts of Chattanooga’s first responders.