Heavy police presence on Igou Gap

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This morning, there was a heavy police presence on Igou Gap Road. Sgt. Victor Miller from CPD tells us that a search and arrest warrant were being served at that time. On-duty SWAT and HNT were issued to serve the warrants. The suspect is in custody. We are currently waiting to hear back from CPD about…

Easter morning Chattanooga house fire

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Witness reports of a house fire on Easter morning led to an extended response from the Chattanooga Fire Department and other agencies. At 8:30 AM first responders were called to the 2700 block of Shepherd View Drive, located near Tyner Road behind Bess T. Shepherd Elementary School. When firefighters arrived, they found half of the house…

Two people arrested after authorities found nearly $150,000 in drug paraphernalia

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Two people have been arrested after local authorities seized a significant quantities of drugs, vehicles, firearms, and cash. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Narcotics & Special Investigations Division and the FBI conducted a search warrant at a home near the 400 block of Booth Road on April 16, 2025. During the search, authorities recovered…

Cleveland fire crews contain kitchen fire at Bradley County Jail

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A fire broke out in the kitchen area of the Bradley County Jail Tuesday afternoon. Crews with the Cleveland Fire Department (CFD) were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found moderate smoke conditions, and made entry to investigate. When they got inside, crews found an active kitchen fire and mounted an aggressive interior attack. According…

Camper fire leads to propane explosion in Hixson neighborhood

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A hixson homeowner lost a camper due to a heavy fire Tuesday morning. At 8:20 a.m., firefighters with the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department (DBVFD) responded to a residential fire at 1644 Lisa Lynn Drive. According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management (HCOEM), a neighbor called 911 reporting a camper fire with structure endangerment….

Pet of the Week: Sissy

Meet News 12’s Pet of the Week, Sissy! Sissy is a petite 3-year-old weighing right at 26 pounds. The Humane Educational Society (HES) says she has a tender heart that needs a little extra love. She can be nervous around new people and situations, however, with time, patience, and a little TLC, Sissy will become a loving, loyal companion. Once…

Firefighters contain semi-trailer blaze on I-24 in Marion County

  MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Fire crews worked to quickly stop a semi-trailer fire Sunday evening on I-24 Westbound near Mile Marker 142. At 6:35 p.m. on April 14, 2025, Haletown Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) responded to a reported semi fire. Upon arrival, crews found the trailer burning from the rear axle back. Monteagle Fire and Rescue, already on…

House fire in St. Elmo

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – On Sunday, firefighters responded to a reported kitchen fire in a residence in the 5100 block of Lynnwood Avenue at 11:05 AM. When arriving on scene, officials reported light smoke showing. A quick interior attack with a handline extinguished a pile of clothes on fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be from a…

Second missing Chattanooga teen recovered from Tennessee River

UPDATE: LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn.—Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) law enforcement officials assisted in the recovery of the bodies of two missing teenagers who jumped into the Tennessee River from Interstate 75 in Loudon County. TWRA wildlife officers and investigators joined the search on Wednesday morning. On Friday, they located and recovered the first victim using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV)….

Fire destroys home on College Station Mountain Road

  PIKEVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — A home on College Station Mountain Road was completely destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon. The Dunlap Fire Department (DFD) was dispatched at 12:35 p.m. on April 10, 2025, in response to a mutual aid request from Pikeville Volunteer Fire Department. Dunlap crews responded with a tanker, engine, and five firefighters. Also assisting at the scene…

Five suspects caught during overnight break-in at McMinn County airsoft store

SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WDEF) —  McMinn County deputies arrested five individuals early Monday morning after catching them in the act of burglarizing a local airsoft business. Deputies were dispatched to Sweetwater Airsoft on County Road 275 around 12:30 a.m. on April 7 after a report of a theft in progress. The business had also been burglarized the previous night. Upon arrival,…

The Chattanooga Zoo adds a young giraffe to the herd

  CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – There’s a new giraffe in town. The Chattanooga Zoo has added a one year old male to the giraffe herd here. His name is Kuzco, named after a character in “The Emperor’s New Groove.” He becomes the fourth giraffe in the herd. Kuzco is 12 feet tall right now but will grow to 16 feet and…

Chattanooga garage completely destroyed by fire

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Early Sunday morning, Chattanooga firefighters prevented a house from going up in flames. At 3:38 a.m. on April 6, 2025, Red Shift crews were dispatched to the 6300 block of Bonny Oaks Drive after several 911 callers reported seeing flames. When crews arrived, they found a working fire in the garage and immediately began an aggressive…

Chattanooga Fire Department launches new wildland fire team

  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)  — The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) has launched a specialized Wildland Fire Team in response to the rising threat of wildfires across Tennessee. CFD also has 20 trained firefighters on the team, with plans to expand. The initiative was born from lessons learned following the Gatlinburg wildfires, prompting command staff to begin developing a dedicated unit…

Authorities investigating the cause of a two vehicle fire in Hixson

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Authorities are investigating the reason two cars were lost during a fire Tuesday evening. At 11:04 p.m., April 1, 2025, personnel with Dallas Bay Fire & Rescue (DBFR) responded to 1943 Light Tower Circle on reports of a multi-vehicle fire with structural endangerment. Upon arrival, firefighters found two fully-engulfed vehicles near a residence. Crews worked swiftly…

Three arrested in Murray County following a drug trafficking investigation

  MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) —  Three Murray County residents have been arrested following recent narcotics investigations by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Kevin Langford was arrested after investigators executed a search warrant at his residence. Authorities found approximately five ounces of methamphetamine. He faces charges of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Jimmy…

Pet of the Week: Gage

Meet News 12’s Pet of the Week, Gage! He is a 2 year old fellow with an expressive face. The Humane Educational Society (HES) says Gage does a splendid Husky vocal impression white in his kennel. He’s quick to warm up to people, especially if he receives a butt scratch. If given a butt scratch, Gage turns in circles and…

Grundy County man arrested for setting fire to Palmer Market

PALMER, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Grundy County man has been arrested and charged with arson after setting fire to a local convenience store. On March 29, 2025, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) was made aware of a suspicious fire at Palmer Market. GCSO immediately launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. According to GCSO, the suspect, Nicholas…

Serious crash leaves one injured

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) – A violent single-vehicle crash early this morning on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road caused the engine to rip out of the vehicle and catch fire in the nearby woods. The accident happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. near the Tennessee-Georgia state line. First responders responded to the scene and found a vehicle with severe front-end damage in the roadway. Firefighters…

Sale Creek home sustains heavy fire damage

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – A newly constructed home in Sale Creek suffered extensive fire damage late Friday night. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a 911 call was made reporting a residential fire at 2080 Boat Hook Lane. The Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) responded and arrived to find smoke emerging from the two-story home. Firefighters quickly established a water…

Cherokee County woman arrested on various drug charges

  MURPHY, Nc. (WDEF) —  A Cherokee County woman has been arrested on various drug charges. Her arrest was the result of a four-month long investigation into local drug trafficking. As part of this investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) executed a search warrant at the residence of Elizabeth N. Pulaski. During the search warrant, authorities seized the following:…