Chattanooga police officers rescue family trapped in burning home

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CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -Chattanooga police officers are credited for saving the lives of four people including a child who were trapped inside a burning home.

It happened shortly after 3 A.M. in the 1200 block of Crutchfield Street.

According to Chattanooga Fire Department Lt. Darwin Sanders, the family could not get out of the house because flames were blocking their way out the front and back doors and the windows were blocked by security bars.

The victims were identified as an 86-year old woman, a 24-year old man, a 24-year old woman and a 9-month old infant.

According to authorities,Chattanooga police officers Brooks, Horton Creighton and Francis ran around the house and located the family, trapped in a back bedroom. They reportedly used a crowbar to pull off the security bars and then helped each family member through the small window

   

Two of the officers released statements about what they encountered.

“Mom was holding the baby up to the security bars to get fresh air," said Sgt. Francis

“I was the first to arrive on scene and had to pull the satellite dish out of the ground to try and pry security bars off the window,"said officer Horton

"If those police officers had not responded and acted in a a way they did, none of those family members would have survived," said Chattanooga Fire Department Spokesperson Bruce Garner.

According to authorities, the 24-year old man suffered 3rd degree burns to his upper extremities. Fire officials say he will be transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta Georgia.

The infant suffered a few cuts. All the victims reportedly suffered minor smoke inhalation.

According to firefighters, the family dog was found alive, hiding under a bed.

There’s speculation by fire officials that the home may not have been equipped a working fire alarm.

"I don’t have any confirmation on that at all. But normally when we see fires like this in which all the exits are blocked and the fire is already so big they can’t get out; the indications are there’s was no smoke alarm to wake them up and to notify them of a fire to begin with," Garner said.

Garner also talked about the security bars blocking the windows. The bars are used to keep out criminals but at the same time, those very same bars almost prevented the family from escaping the blaze. Garner said there is an alternative to traditional security bars that are bolted into the structure.

"There are some security bars that that have a quick release mechanism on the inside. If you feel like you need security bars, then perhaps those type of bars may be better," Garner said.

Cause of the blaze remains under investigation and the home is considered a total loss.