News Releases

Green Shift companies worked a house fire in the 1100 block of E 32nd St at 4AM on 8/25/23. There were no injuries. The residents smelled smoke and escaped. They were out of the structure upon the CFD's arrival. Three family members were displaced and will be receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Engine 9, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 1, Quint 14 and Battalion 1 responded. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Chattanooga Fire Department hosted an 80-hour structural collapse specialist class that teaches rescuers to be able to assist and mitigate a structural collapse incident. Students began the course with learning how to lift, move, break, and breach different types of heavy objects that they would encounter in a collapse situation. They also learned how to turn the collapsed structure from an unstable, to stable environment in order to begin rescue operations. This class is vital for our regional USAR team. Structural collapse capabilities have come into play in recent years following natural disasters like tornadoes, and other instances when structures have been compromised by car wrecks, for example. It’s also part of our USAR Team’s deployment capabilities in the event that they’re called to a structural collapse in this region. There were 22 participants in the class, including firefighters and members of law enforcement. Agencies represented include: Chattanooga FD, Cleveland, TN Fire Department, Soddy Daisy Fire Department, Red Bank Fire Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Bradley County Fire & Rescue.

The final exercise created a “real life” scenario at a property on Highway 153 that the CFD has received permission to use as a training site. It simulated a wreck involving a car that left the roadway and struck a residence, trapping several victims. Students were tasked with problem solving using their newly acquired collapse specialist skills. All of the techniques they learned were used to conduct the mock rescue safely and effectively. Members of the class will continue learning in September with confined space training and trench rescue in October.

Local public safety agencies took part in an active shooter training exercise at Chattanooga State Community College on Wednesday. It provided a realistic setting for the drill and allowed for collaboration between first responders on a large-scale emergency incident. The CFD, CPD, campus police, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911, Erlanger Hospital, and Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security participated in the training exercise. Months of planning went into the event and hundreds of people were involved. 

One patient was trapped in critical condition in this wreck off I-24W at the Market Street exit Tuesday morning. Squad 1, Squad 13, Engine 5, and Ladder 1 Green Shift freed the patient. Hamilton County EMS took over patient care and transported the crash victim to the hospital.