Chattanooga, TN – Firefighters from the Chattanooga Fire Department were able to successfully protect homes on Missionary Ridge Thursday night following a large-scale response to a brush fire.
The fire, which broke out at 4:45 PM on March 26, 2025, near 16th Avenue and East 32nd Street in East Lake at the base of the ridge, quickly escalated as it began to climb the ridge, threatening nearby homes.
In response, a second division was set up at the top of the ridge to combat the blaze from all sides. Approximately 10-15 acres of land were engulfed in flames. At one point, the fire jumped Westside Drive, but firefighters working from the ridge top were able to extinguish it.
CFD’s Drone Unit assisted in providing critical information about areas that needed water, while crews navigated steep terrain to get necessary equipment in and out of the woods. Firefighters continued battling the fire from both the top and bottom of the ridge for several hours until it was contained.
Thanks to the quick response and hard work of all involved, no structures were damaged, and the fire was limited to the woods.
The Chattanooga Fire Wildland Team worked alongside Tennessee Forestry to cut breaks in the landscape and prevent the fire from spreading further. While the cause of the fire remains unclear, there were no injuries reported.
The department also thanked their Tri-State Mutual Aid Companies, whose personnel supported both the scene and Chattanooga fire stations during the incident.