Fire Takes House in Catoosa County

CATOOSA COUNTY, GA – At about 1:45 PM, a frantic caller to Catoosa County 9-1-1 reported a
residential structure fire at 834 Pine Grove Road.  The caller stated that the fire was in the garage and
flames were showing.  Fort Oglethorpe Engine 8, Engine 1, Ladder 1 and Catoosa County Engine 3 were
knocked out.

Engine 3 was the first to arrive and reported a single story brick structure with heavy fire and smoke
showing, not only in the garage but the house itself.  A large amount of burning oil was running down the
driveway and into the yard.  Firefighters pulled a two and a half inch line and immediately began flowing
water onto the structure.  It was determined that the residents had escaped uninjured and a defensive
attack was ordered.  As additional resources arrived they were deployed to various places around the
house with attack lines.  Firefighters entered through the front door of the residence in an attempt to get
to the deep seated fire but the roof and an interior wall collapsed on the almost immediately.  Firefighters
were then ordered out of the structure for good due to other unstable walls and imminent collapse of
other roof parts.

Firefighters continued to find spilled barrels of oil, a pickup truck inside the garage, several motorcycles
and four wheelers, lawn mowers and many other highly volatile and flammable items burning inside the
garage and storage buildings in the rear.  Ammunition could also be heard going off during the initial
attack.  Due to the large amount of oil running down the driveway and into a local creek, SRT
environmental was contacted and requested to contain the hazardous material.  Firefighters were forced
to await the containment before using the ladder pipe from Fort Oglethorpe Ladder 1.  Once the spill was
contained the stick was set up and massive amounts of water were poured onto the remains of the
structure.

Also assisting at the scene were Catoosa Engine 1 and Engine 6, Fort Oglethorpe Air/Light 1, Hose 1,
and Truck 8 and GDC 9 (Georgia Department of Corrections firefighters).  An Engine Company from
East Ridge was backed in to Fort Oglethorpe Station 1 for coverage and Tri Community Volunteer Fire
Department was backed in to Catoosa.  Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue provided an air truck and
rehab for weary firefighters.  The Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance in closing
the roadway for firefighter safety and Angel EMS was on the scene to provide medical care if needed.  
One firefighter was checked out after the roof collapse however he returned to work immediately.  There
were no other reported injuries as a result of the fire.

The homeowner reported that he came outside and observed smoke and fire inside his garage and
immediately called 9-1-1.  The exact cause and origin of the fire are under investigation at this time.  A
dollar amount has not yet been placed on the loss but the house and all its contents is a total loss.  In
addition at least one pickup and two motorcycles were destroyed and a boat heavily damaged.