Chattanooga, TN – According to the CFD officials, large house fire overnight prompted an extensive response from the Chattanooga Fire Department and multiple agencies, lasting several hours.
At 11:15 PM on August 31, 2024, Green Shift companies were dispatched to a residence in the 4300 block of St. Elmo Avenue. Engine 14 arrived first, encountering heavy smoke and a fully involved basement fire.
The home was vacant and undergoing renovations.
Firefighters quickly established a water supply and initiated an interior attack, only to discover the fire had already vented out the right side of the structure.
Due to unsafe conditions, the decision was made to switch to a defensive strategy. Crews utilized handlines and a master stream to combat the blaze and protect nearby homes from radiant heat.
Public Works assisted with overhaul using an excavator, and there were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The response included Engine 14, Engine 1, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CFD Investigations, HCEMS, and CFD’s Operations Chief. The Air Pollution Control Bureau, Building Inspectors, EPB, and Chattanooga Gas were also involved in the response. Emergency personnel remained on the scene for over five hours.