A young boy’s quick actions brought attention to a structure fire

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) — At 10:55 a.m., the Signal Mountain Fire Department responded to a structure fire after a young boy spotted flames and quickly alerted his parents.

They immediately called 911, allowing firefighters to arrive on the scene within minutes.

The Signal Mountain Fire Department responded to the possible house fire at 7 Rock Crest Drive.

Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and fire emerging from the roof and a second-floor bedroom window.

Ben Cairns, the homeowner’s partner, described the horrific moment.

“It was terrifying to see fire coming out of the house,” Cairns explained. “The fire trucks arrived just as I got there, so it was all pretty dramatic.”

Townsend Collins, Jr., a young neighbor, played a major role as he saw the fire in its early stages and reported it.

We spoke with Collins, Jr., about what he saw and how he discovered the fire.

“I was playing on my iPad, and then I heard, like, a big bang. So, I checked over there on the window, and then I saw, like, I was just checking for trees, and then I saw the fire…it was a little fire, and then it started growing bigger, and then they called 911.”

He tells us that he’s glad that everyone was safe.

According to Cairns, the fire hadn’t been burning for long before firefighters arrived.

“The firefighters told me it was a huge lightning strike,” he elaborated. “Neighbors say a small boy next door spotted the fire, and we were contacted immediately. The fire department arrived at the same time I did.”

Cairns praised the efficiency of the firefighters, highlighting their teamwork and communication.

“It’s really impressive to see how the fire department responded,” Cairns said. “There were five or six fire trucks here, the police were here, and an ambulance was on standby. They were very well prepared.”

While the flames were contained quickly, the house suffered significant water damage.

“They were very quick and orderly in how they approached the fire,” he noted. “They turned off the electricity, assessed where the fire was, and worked in teams to attack it from the top. They got it out really quickly with the water. I was pretty impressed with all of them, and they kept me informed about what was happening and when I could go back in the house.”

Signal Mountain Fire Chief confirmed that the fire was caused by a lightning strike.

Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Cairns allowed News 12 inside the home to document the extent of the damage, including water damage throughout the structure.

For now, the homeowners are waiting for a full assessment.

However, fire officials estimate the damages to be around $200,000.

News 12 thanks the Collins family for providing a portion of the video shown in the story.