Chattanooga, TN – On the evening of July 23, Chattanooga firefighters swiftly responded to a hazardous fire situation at a downtown hotel, rescuing two individuals trapped inside a smoke-filled elevator and containing the blaze in under 15 minutes.
At 7:41 p.m., Blue Shift crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) were dispatched to a commercial structure fire at 100 West 21st Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire burning in the basement of the hotel. Inside, two individuals were trapped in an elevator directly above the fire, calling 911 to report that smoke was quickly filling the cab.
Acting quickly, firefighters used Hurst tools to pry open the elevator doors and pull the two occupants to safety. The individuals were evaluated on scene by Hamilton County EMS for smoke inhalation but did not require transport to the hospital.
While the rescue was underway, additional CFD crews battled the two-alarm basement fire and simultaneously conducted a floor-by-floor evacuation of guests from the smoke-filled building. The fire was fully extinguished by 7:54 p.m., and crews remained on site ventilating smoke from the hotel.
No injuries were reported in the incident. Officials later determined the cause of the fire to be an electrical malfunction.
The CFD expressed appreciation for their mutual aid partners who staffed other city fire stations while the response unfolded downtown.