Chattanooga Fire investigating a 2-alarm apartment fire

Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) – A fire at a Signal Mountain apartment complex left 18 units without power this afternoon.

At 5:19 p.m. today, Chattanooga firefighters were dispatched to a reported apartment fire at The Arbors at Signal Mountain, located at 751 Runyan Drive.

Fire Station 17 on Signal Mountain Road is located a short distance away, and when the firefighters got into their fire truck and drove out of the bay, they could see significant smoke and flames coming from Building 1 in the apartment complex. Captain Troy Milsaps with Quint 17 immediately called for a second alarm response to bring in an additional six fire companies.

Incident Commander and Battalion Chief Carlos Hampton said the firefighters located the fire on the second floor of the three-story building and took in hand-held hoselines.

After making a primary search and finding no one inside, they worked to get the blaze under control. Firefighters then set up two aerials to begin spraying water from above, while additional firefighters took in hoselines to the third floor and attic.

Chief Hampton stated the firefighters did an outstanding job of containing the fire mainly to three apartment units.

Two or three other units were found to have had some smoke and water damage.

Chief Hampton also said “the building had a good fire wall, which assisted the firefighters in containing and extinguishing the bulk of the fire in about 15 minutes. Fortunately, all of the residents got out safely and no injuries were reported.”

An estimate on the dollar loss was not available, but the building has a grand total of 18 apartment units, most of which were spared any fire damage.

With the wiring damaged by the fire, power had to be disconnected from all 18 apartment units.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the fire victims displaced by the fire.

Chief Hampton explained that if EPB technicians could not restore power to the undamaged units, then the residents in all 18 apartment units will have to stay elsewhere tonight.

Chattanooga police and Hamilton County EMS also provided valuable assistance on the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

*Photos provided by Bruce Garner

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Fire Department is working a 2-alarm apt fire at The Arbors of Signal Mountain. Officials say the firefighters managed to get the fire out quickly and no injuries reported. Bruce Garner says several residents will be displaced.

On scene of 2-alarm apt fire at The Arbors of Signal Mountain. No reports of injuries so far. #ChattFire pic.twitter.com/cd5WH2SYzs

— Chattanooga FireDept (@ChattFireDept) October 26, 2017