Chattanooga, TN – In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Chattanooga firefighters responded to a major house fire in the East Lake neighborhood, working for hours to bring the blaze under control.
The incident began at approximately 1:45 a.m. on July 17, 2025, when Blue Shift companies with the Chattanooga Fire Department were dispatched to the 3500 block of 6th Avenue.
Chattanooga police officers arrived first and began knocking on nearby doors in an attempt to evacuate residents. When there was no response from inside the home, firefighters initiated both a fire attack and a search of the structure. No one was found inside.
A second alarm was quickly issued to bring additional fire companies to the scene as the flames intensified. Fire broke through the roof of the home, causing it to sag and raising safety concerns. Fire officials made the call to withdraw all personnel from the building. Once the main body of the fire was knocked down, crews were able to re-enter and complete interior operations.
By 2:24 a.m., firefighters had the blaze under control and shifted into overhaul operations. No injuries were reported, and no one was home at the time of the fire. However, several residents were displaced and are receiving support from the American Red Cross.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Responding units included Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 4, Engine 9, Engine 1, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 14, Engine 15, Squad 20, Ladder 13, Squad 13, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 3, CFD Investigations, CFD Supply, Chattanooga Police Department, and Hamilton County EMS. Mutual aid partners provided station coverage while crews worked the scene.
The Chattanooga Fire Department expressed gratitude for the support and teamwork shown during the extended emergency response.