News Releases

A suspect has been taken into custody and faces multiple charges in connection with damages done to the Chattanooga Masonic Center. Kadum Harwood, 29, was arrested Monday evening in Catoosa County, GA and he will be extradited to Hamilton County, TN. He is charged with arson, vandalism, burglary and reckless endangerment. At 2:11 AM on 9/4/23, firefighters responded to the Masonic Lodge at 551 W 21st Street on a fire alarm activation. When CFD personnel arrived on scene, they found a fire on the left front exterior of the building which was quickly extinguished. Also, the front doors were open and as crews made entry, they found another small fire inside the structure which had activated the sprinkler system. The sprinklers effectively extinguished the interior fire. Along with fire and water damage, there was also damage to the building from vandalism. Through the course of a multi-agency investigation involving CFD investigators and law enforcement, Harwood was identified as the suspect in the case.

A fire at East Lake Academy of Fine Arts is under investigation. At 10:36 AM on Friday 9/1/23, Chattanooga Fire was called to the school at 2700 E 34th Street on reports of a small fire in the second floor boys bathroom. The School Resource Officer extinguished the fire and CFD personnel ventilated the structure. One teacher suffered some smoke inhalation, but denied treatment by HCEMS. A CFD investigator and fire inspector responded, along with Engine 9, Quint 14, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Ladder 1, Ladder 13, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, and Battalion 3 Blue Shift. The entire school was evacuated until fire officials deemed it safe for students to return to the building. There were no other injuries. Great work by the school staff executing their fire evacuation protocols and by the SRO for taking quick action to put out the fire.

Two people were transported to the hospital following a duplex fire Wednesday afternoon off Wilcox Boulevard. At 1:21 PM on 8/30/23, Blue Shift personnel responded to the 1400 block of Roanoke Avenue to a residential fire involving a duplex with one apartment in the front and one apartment in the back of the structure. Residents in the rear apartment had smoke coming through their wall, called 911 and escaped. One adult and one juvenile were taken to the hospital with possible smoke inhalation. CFD’s Special Operations Chief happened to be at the traffic light on Wilcox Boulevard when the call came out and spotted smoke. He pulled into the scene and began relaying information to dispatch and incoming companies. Engine 4 arrived and made an interior attack on the front unit where the fire was located. They had a quick knockdown, containing the fire to the front unit where no one was home. Other crews assisted firefighting operations, including searches of the residence, ventilation, and overhaul. The American Red Cross will be assisting three impacted residents. The cause of the fire will be under investigation. Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Quint 10, Squad 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, HCEMS, CPD, CFD Investigations, CFD Safety Chief, CFD Special Ops Chief, and EPB responded.

As storms came through our area Monday night, lightning struck a North Chattanooga home and caused a fire. Green Shift companies responded to the 1100 block of Longholm Court at 6:18 PM on 8/28/23. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack on fire in the attic, stopping it from spreading. The fire was under control by 6:42 PM. It was contained to the attic, however, there’s extensive damage to the residence, including smoke and water damage. No one was home at the time and there were no injuries. A witness called 911 to report flames coming from the roof which allowed CFD personnel to quickly respond. Quint 16, Quint 17, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 12, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, HCEMS and CPD were on the call. Two firefighters were transported to the hospital with minor injuries following the fire response. They were treated and released.