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1/15/2011 - Woman Dies In Apartment Fire On Fifth Street - Breaking News - Chattanoogan.com
An early morning apartment fire has resulted in what may be Chattanooga's first fire-related fatality of the year.
Chattanooga fire investigators say the victim was a 42-year-old woman. Her identity is being withheld until next-of-kin have been notified, and positive identification is made at the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office.
Fire Investigator Andy Waters said the victim's sister was asleep in the apartment when the fire broke out. Her sister is deaf, but a smoke alarm equipped with a strobe light for the hearing impaired woke the woman up and she managed to escape unharmed.
The circumstances surrounding her sister's death, and the cause of the fire, remain under investigation.
The 911 Center received the first calls of an apartment fire at 518 E. 5th Street shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. The Chattanooga Fire Department responded with six fire companies and upon arrival saw smoke coming from one side of the large, two-story house, which had been converted into four or five apartment units.
Battalion Chief Rodney Jones said the firefighters made their way inside the front entrance and located the fire in a back bedroom and bathroom in an apartment on the first floor. The firefighters quickly got the fire under control, containing most of the fire damage to those two rooms. During the firefighting operation, firefighters found a body in the bathroom.
Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire, and whether or not this is a fire-related fatality. The Chattanooga Police Department's Major Crimes Division is also investigating the incident, which is standard protocol when fatalities are involved.
The residents in the other apartment units were uninjured. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called to the scene to assist those who might need a temporary place to stay.
Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene. The investigation will continue.
An early morning apartment fire has resulted in what may be Chattanooga's first fire-related fatality of the year.
Chattanooga fire investigators say the victim was a 42-year-old woman. Her identity is being withheld until next-of-kin have been notified, and positive identification is made at the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office.
Fire Investigator Andy Waters said the victim's sister was asleep in the apartment when the fire broke out. Her sister is deaf, but a smoke alarm equipped with a strobe light for the hearing impaired woke the woman up and she managed to escape unharmed.
The circumstances surrounding her sister's death, and the cause of the fire, remain under investigation.
The 911 Center received the first calls of an apartment fire at 518 E. 5th Street shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. The Chattanooga Fire Department responded with six fire companies and upon arrival saw smoke coming from one side of the large, two-story house, which had been converted into four or five apartment units.
Battalion Chief Rodney Jones said the firefighters made their way inside the front entrance and located the fire in a back bedroom and bathroom in an apartment on the first floor. The firefighters quickly got the fire under control, containing most of the fire damage to those two rooms. During the firefighting operation, firefighters found a body in the bathroom.
Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire, and whether or not this is a fire-related fatality. The Chattanooga Police Department's Major Crimes Division is also investigating the incident, which is standard protocol when fatalities are involved.
The residents in the other apartment units were uninjured. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called to the scene to assist those who might need a temporary place to stay.
Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene. The investigation will continue.