***Photos from Fire Department inspection CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga firefighters say people trying to help the homeless are actually fueling fires in their camps. They say a recent fire consumed two makeshift structures built from old pallets and tents. When they visited the encampments, they found more than 80 propane tanks. “As a result of these dangerous conditions, fire officials…
UPDATE: Calhoun Police say the helicopter is private. The FAA is now on the scene. ________ CALHOUN, Georgia (WDEF) – A helicopter crashed in a parking lot in Calhoun, Georgia this afternoon. It happened near an Aaron’s Rental Center and El Nopal Restaurant on Highway 53. People on the scene tell us they helped two adults and two…
HARRISON, Tennessee (WDEF) – An explosive fire this afternoon claimed a home in the Harrison community. Highway 58 firefighters got the call to a home on Darlene Lane near the Booker T. Washington State Park after 1PM. The call was for a fire on the back porch. But by the time they got there, about half of the home and…
(Photos from Bradley Co. Fire Dept.) CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Officials are blaming the wildfire last night in the Cleveland area on the storms that swept through our area. The fire burned more than 80 acres near Blue Springs Church Road south of Cleveland. Volunteer Electric Coop officials say the storms broke a power line which started the fire. Their…
RAINSVILLE, Alabama (WDEF) – Rainsville, Alabama isn’t really their hometown, but it was close enough in 1982. County music fans in our area should be able to tell you that “the boys from Alabama” came from Fort Payne. But when they played up on the mountain early that year, it was still a homecoming show. Alabama was just hitting it…
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Hazardous Materials crews were part of the response this afternoon in Cleveland to a tanker truck wreck. The truck failed to make the turn on a small Dockery Lane onto Blue Springs Road. The tanker slipped into the ditch and twisted over. The truck was carrying a concentrated industrial salt solution, which began to spill. But…
SEVIERVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Several intriguing developments are in the works for the Seiverville/Smoky Mountains area of East Tennessee. Now we’re learning of a new one promising great views and a treehouse experience. The Sanctuary Treehouse Resort is touted as the first of its kind. The developers are promising resort accommodations in their lux tree houses with access to a…
UPDATE: Dallas Bay officials say an auto mechanic called 911 to report a garage fire around 7:55 PM. He said he was working on an old Chevy truck when his cordless drill sparked and set the gas tank on fire. The mechanic suffered minor burns to his forearm. But his brother was taken to the hospital with burns to his…
DAYTON, Tennessee (WDEF) – An undercover operation in Dayton has led to the arrest of five men from across the Tennessee Valley on seeking illicit sex from minors. Last week, undercover officers placed decoy ads on websites used for prostitution and commercial sex. The TBI reports five arrests from the sting: *Eugenio D. Bautista (DOB 06/14/1998), Dayton: Two counts Trafficking…
***photos from Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – A man has been charged with drunk driving after hitting a Hamilton County Sheriff’s vehicle last night. The wreck happened in the 5470 block of Hixson Pike above Northgate just after midnight. Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The deputy was not injured. Kalia Williams of Hixson was arrested for…
FORT PAYNE, Alabama (WDEF) – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office makes eight arrests following a raid in the Blake Community on Sand Mountain on Thursday. Narcotics officers, deputies and even an Aviation Unit hit the residence on County Road 515 near Rainsville to serve a search warrant. The Sheriff says they found around 70 grams of meth, cash and four…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue Service describes the underground search that found two lost cavers last night. They say that Gabriel Vaughn and Robby Dobos went to explore a cave on Monday night that is closed off to the public. But when friends hadn’t heard from them on Tuesday, they called for help. They say the pair were…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – Hamilton County officials posted pictures today of work beginning on Roberts Mill Road. The road near Soddy Daisy up Waldens Ridge was shut down after a mudslide last week. After consulting with experts, county officials say Roberts Mill will have to remain closed for 8 weeks for the repairs. Crews are not only replacing part…
WALDENS RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF) – An early morning fire on the side of Signal Mountain created quite a water challenge for Waldens Ridge Emergency Services. The fire happened at a home on the W Road around 6 AM. But there are not fire hydrants on the road up the mountain. So WRES firefighters had to set up a “Tanker Shuttle”…
UPDATE: After an inspection by a Geo Tech Stabilization company, Hamilton County officials now say it will take 8 weeks to repair Roberts Mill Road. They will begin the work next week. _______ HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – The news is worse than first expected on Roberts Mill Road. The road which goes up Walden’s Ridge near Soddy Daisy…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – First responders continue to get calls about people stuck in flooding in the Middle Valley and Dallas Bay areas. Chattanooga Firefighters rescued drivers in back-to-back incidents Wednesday Afternoon. The first was a car that failed to make it across Lower Mill Road when it stalled. Firefighters waded out to get two people out of the…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A woman and her pets escaped a house fire this morning in the Shallowford Road/Hickory Valley area. You could see the smoke from miles away. The fire happened at a home in the Kenton Ridge subdivision. It was first reported by someone driving by the house. Firefighters tried to enter the home but were driven back by…
JASPER, Tennessee (WDEF) – Investigators are now ready to expand their case against Dustin Stephens. He was originally charged with having one of the guns stolen from the Mountain Mart in December. But a total of 28 firearms were taken during the robbery. Marion County and state drug task force officers have been investigating the case. They now believe Stephens…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Zoo officials announce that their new Red Panda Habitat is complete. The new exhibit has more space with more vertical climbing structures like bridges, tunnels, ladders and platforms. It also features an outdoor “Panda Condo” for them to hang out in. You still will be able to see them in their indoor exhibit from the…
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Cleveland Police are looking for some young, male suspects for a spree of assaults. They say the suspects are wanted for firing Airsoft guns at pedestrians. They have surveillence photos plus images of a pickup and an SUV also suspected in the assaults. If you have any information on the case or the suspects, please leave…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announces five new promotions and hirings in his administration. Karista Mosley Jones will serve as administrator of the Department of Early Learning. The former school board member has been working for the city since August on the mayor’s Community Forward partnership with the schools. The Mayor says “Our commitment to early learning has…
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – The FBI is posting photos of a bank robbery suspect who has hit a number of banks in Tennessee and Alabama. The 8 robberies fan out around Chattanooga, but none were in our area. The arc extends from the Knoxville area, to Middle Tennessee, to the most recent one in the Huntsville, Alabama area. They describe…
UPDATE: Bradley Co. officers have now charged a worker at the daycare with 27 counts of child neglect. Not for causing the fire, but for drinking on the jobs. Details on the charges at Sheriff’s Office charges daycare worker with neglect after fire – WDEF _________ CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – A Daycare in the Cleveland area suffered major damage in…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It may seem strange timing, but a new Sports-themed restaurant is opening in Chattanooga the day after the Super Bowl. Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is opening their first Chattanooga location near the Aquarium on Monday, February 14. They may have missed the Super Bowl, but they are just in time for Valentine’s Day. The new chain comes from…
