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| Wind Blown Fire Destroys East Ridge House EAST RIDGE, TENN – Just after 3:30 PM, Thursday, December 10, 2009, the 9-1-1 Communications Center began receiving multiple calls of a residential structure fire at 715 Haven Hill Drive. As Battalion 1, Commander Eric Bowen, pulled out of Fire Station 1 about three miles from the house he could see a column of black smoke and immediately realized that firefighters had their work cut out for them. Commander Bowen requested an “all call” for all off duty personnel and a mutual aid assignment from Fort Oglethorpe Fire and Rescue (Georgia). Commander Bowen arrived on the scene and reported a two story wood frame residence with aluminum siding on the upstairs and brick veneer on the first floor with heavy involvement. He also reported two cars heavily involved, one in the garage, the other beside the house on the B side. Engine 2 arrived momentarily and immediately pulled one inch and three quarter cross lay and a 2 ½ inch line. The two and a half was stretched to the front of the house and the inch and three quarter to the A side, D end to help protect the structure on that side. The wind was blowing very hard and the temperatures were hovering around the freezing mark. The house had a metal roof and the fire ran the attic the entire length of the house in what seemed like seconds. It was not self venting through the roof and all the fire and heat was dropping down inside the house. Engine 1 arrived in minutes and laid dual supply lines from a hydrant about four hundred feet away. At this point fire was getting increasingly heavy and the two and a half was not making any headway against the growing inferno. Commander Bowen called for an additional mutual aid assignment from Catoosa County Fire Department (Georgia) and Rossville Fire Department. Catoosa Engine 3 and Rossville Engine 2 responded along with Fort Oglethorpe Squad 1. Firefighters deployed additional attack lines to several areas to help bring the fire under control. Firefighters eventually made entry into the house through the front door and were able to gain the upper hand on the fire but not until the majority of the house was destroyed. It took over a hour to bring the fire under control and firefighters were hitting hot spots for quite some time afterwards. Firefighters were on the scene until almost 8:00 PM doing overhaul. The homeowners were on the scene when the fire broke out but managed to escape unharmed. The family dog was located by firefighters and brought to safety. It did have some injuries as a result of the fire but it was quickly given oxygen, treated, and rushed to an animal hospital. The injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Memorial EMS was on the scene on standby but no injuries were reported. Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue supplied rehab and also their air truck. Damage is estimated at about $150,000 including the two vehicles that were destroyed. One of the vehicles was a Ford Explorer and the other a vintage Ford Mustang circa 1965. The exact cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Arson Division of the East Ridge Fire Department. |
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