Morning Fire Leaves Four Families Homeless

Tennessee - ( 3 Photos ) No injuries were reported in connection with a structure fire this morning, but the flames forced four families out of their homes. The fire started around 10:00 a.m. at 600 Tunnel Boulevard. A neighbor was reportedly the first to notice the fire, and that individual quickly alerted the residents in the house to get out.

The house was divided into four apartment units. All of the residents who were in the house, including a five-month-old baby, got out safely. No injuries were reported.

Battalion Chief Thaddeus Morton said the fire appears to have started in a unit on the first floor, but the flames quickly spread through the walls to the apartment unit upstairs, and then into the attic. Chattanooga firefighters aggressively attacked the fire inside on all levels, and managed to contain most of the fire damage to one side of the structure.

Captain Clifford Bryant with Engine 15 estimated the dollar loss at around $50,000 for the building and its contents. Most of the residents said they did not have renter's insurance.

Forced out of their homes by the fire, the victims were exposed to the frigid temperatures as firefighters worked to get the blaze under control. American Red Cross personnel were called to the scene to help the victims in their recovery efforts. The Red Cross brought in its Emergency Response Vehicle to provide hot drinks and snacks to the victims.

The house was damaged to the point that it is uninhabitable, so the victims will need to stay with family or friends for the next few days. If that's not an option, the Red Cross will place them temporarily in a local motel, free of charge.

Chattanooga Police and Hamilton County EMS provided assistance on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Written and photos by Bruce Garner