Massive Fire at Vacant Textile Plant in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Multiple fire crews worked to put out a massive fire at nationally historic plant here in Chattanooga early Tuesday morning.

It that happened around 3 at the old Standard-Coosa-Thatcher plant.

A person driving along a nearby road noticed the flames and called 911.

“The first arriving firefighters decided to call for a second alarm response to bring in additional fire companies”, said Chattanooga Fire Department Public Information Officer Bruce Garner.

40 firefighters worked to combat the flames.

One firefighter received medical attention.

“A firefighter was treated on the scene for heat exhaustion. He appears to be fine. Paramedics with EMS gave him some fluids to get him hydrated. He appears to be okay, said Garner.

The blaze lit up the sky and smoke billowed into the air for several hours.

Jeremy Babb works next door, at P and C Construction.

He said he and his co-workers were shocked to see the fire when they arrived to work.

“Yeah, we were surprised to find out the neighbors had caught on fire. The firefighters told us it was probably one of the biggest fires they had seen in the past decade here in Chattanooga.”

The plant has been vacant for years, but it was once a thriving textile mill that dominated the economy in the Scenic City.

The plant provided  many jobs for community members in the early 1900s.

The mill eventually in 2003.

In 2015 the remaining buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

For information and the history of the Standard-Coosa-Thatcher plant, click here.