Fire on State Line Causes Delayed Response

Two Chattanooga firefighters suffered injuries during a house fire Wednesday night at 1732 Clayton Avenue on south Missionary Ridge.

It happened at a large, two story home on the south end of the Ridge.

The owners , Richard and Bea Chadburn were warned by an upstairs fire alarm about around 10:30 last night.

Because Clayton Avenue is on the state line, Mrs. Chadburn says it took 35 minutes for the first unit to arrive.

The 9-1-1 center dispatched Chattanooga fire units at 10:45 and they arrived 11 minutes later.

The fire was burning through the roof by the time crews got there, and the heat was so intense that it melted holes in their hoses.

The two injured firefighters received treatment at Erlanger, where their injuries were not to be life-threatening.

Neither of the injuries were considered serious. Firefighters don't yet know the cause, but they felt it was accidental.