Chattanooga (TN) firefighters rescued multiple people from a second-alarm apartment building in the city’s North Shore overnight.
At 1:32 a.m. on November 22, 2024, Red Shift companies were dispatched to 417 Frazier Avenue, according to a release from the department. Engine 12 members saw smoke as they headed to the scene and went to the back of the structure where heavy smoke and flames were coming from the parking garage. Several vehicles were on fire and the smoke from the fire was filling the entire building.
- Survivable Space: Not Our Decision
- Tactical Supervision for Known Rescues
- Civilian Rescue: Removing the Occupant
As firefighters pulled handlines and forced entry into the garage to commence fire attack, other responding fire companies were in search-and-rescue mode. Residents were unable to escape due to the thick smoke and zero visibility conditions. Firefighters helped several people down Ladder 1’s aerial from the fourth floor. They also brought other residents down a back staircase with their pets.
In total, seven people were rescued and five people were transported to the hospital with minor smoke inhalation. Two people were evaluated by EMS on the scene. Crews fighting the vehicle fires in the garage used two attack lines and then a third foam line for the gasoline tanks. They successfully contained the fire to the garage, preventing it from spreading throughout the rest of the structure. Firefighters thoroughly searched every floor of the building and no other victims were found. The fire was under control by 2:30 a.m. and extinguished by 2:47 a.m.
Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) investigators are working to determine what caused the fire. The apartments sustained smoke damage, displacing residents, and cars in the garage were also damaged.
CFD, Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit, EPB, CFD Investigations, CFD Supply, and CFD Training Division responded, along with Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Service for rehab. Mutual-aid partners from other area fire departments answered calls at Chattanooga fire stations while the CFD worked the two-alarm fire. Engine 12, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 3, Engine 4, Engine 17, Ladder 13, Engine 14, Engine 15, Engine 16, Engine 3, Engine 10, Squad 20, Engine 9, Battalion 1 and Battalion 3 were on the call.
