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Sunday, February 10,2008 - 4:00 pm - Several Fort Oglethorpe Firefighters
were hanging around station 10 discussing how quiet it had been in their
district when tones started dropping. At first thought this was going to be
another automatic fire alarm, but as the call was dispatch firefighters
realized they had jinxed themselves. A racing flow of adrenaline came to
life as the dispatcher blurted out a reported full involved residential
structure fire at 298 Century Drive.
Within seconds, Fort Oglethorpe Engine 10, Catoosa Quint 3, Fort Oglethorpe
Ladder 1, F O Engine 1 and F O Engine 8 were all responding to the scene.
First to arrive on the scene was Fort Oglethorpe Fire Chief Marlin Thompson
(906). Chief Thompson immediately confirmed heavy involvement to a single
story wood frame structure and established Century Drive command. Chief
Thompson also reported two exposure problems from houses on both sides, one
of which was already showing signs of heat damage.
Moments later, Catoosa Quint 3 came screaming down the street, with Fort
Oglethorpe Engine 10 right behind it bringing a 5 inch supply hose from a
nearby fire hydrant. As a crew from Quint 3 pulled a primary inch and ¾ hose
line, Engine 10’s crew set up a water supply and pulled a secondary inch and
¾ line. Quint 3’s crew started wetting down one of the nearby exposures as
Engine 10’s crew head for the front of the structure. Ladder 1 and Engine 1
rolled up in short order and crews immediately pulled several additional
lines including a 3 inch master stream.
Firefighters rapidly started gaining the upper hand with the use of the deck
gun on Engine 10 and a blitz fire nozzle on a master stream. The fire had
already consumed the rear and roof of the structure and unfortunately the
home was already to far gone to save do to the fast moving fire and strong
winds. However, firefighters were able to contain the flames and keep them
from spreading to the nearby homes. Both of the homes on both sides of this
one did receive heat damage. A Harley motorcycle, that was in the garage,
was also destroyed by the fire.
Nobody was believed to have been home at the time of the fire, but a family
pet was there. Firefighters and police officers attempted to save the dog
early in the response, however they were pushed back by the heat and flames.
The American Red Cross was called to help the family and members of the
Chattanooga Chapter of The Christian Motorcyclists Association also
responded to the scene to support the family. The cause of the fire is still
under investigation.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
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