CHATTANOOGA, Tenn - November 2,2009 - 12:30 pm - A 9-1-1 call reported a
house fire at 4908 14th Avenue, in the East Lake Community of Chattanooga.
The called was said to be a neighbor and also reported the family was home
at the time. Several City of Chattanooga Fire Companies and a Hamilton
County EMS unit were immediately dispatched to the scene. Within minutes the
first fire engine pulled up in front of the house and quickly reported
flames coming from the roof and heavy smoke coming from several windows.
Engine 9 was the first engine company to
arrive under the command of Captain Travis Williams, a primary attack was
initiated on the rapidly growing blaze. Fortunately, the additional
responding units arrived very quickly and numerous firefighters joined in
the attack. It was quickly evident the firefighters were gaining the upper
hand. The blaze was brought under control, however due to the advanced stage
of the fire when crews arrived the house sustained very heavy damage.
Three children lived in the house with
their mother and her boyfriend, one of them, a one year old sustained some
burns and was rushed to T. C. Thompsons by Hamilton County EMS. The child is
believed to be able to make a full recovery. The families pet, a small dog
did succumb to the fire.
Officials say that Melissa Buckner told
firefighters that she was in the kitchen and went to check on her three
children in the back bedroom. When she got there, she saw smoke and flames
and immediately got her children out. She called to her boyfriend, who was
out in back of the house. Her boyfriend, Justin Parker, saw the fire in the
bedroom and ran to fill a bucket with water. By the time he returned to the
bedroom, the entire room was engulfed in flames. He threw the bucket of
water on the flames, but it was useless, so he got out of the house. The
cause of the fire is still under investigation. The American Red Cross was
called to help the family.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
