On scene of a fire on Durham Dr. FIRE's out. 2 victims. 1 transported to hospital. More later. #ChattFire pic.twitter.com/Dyf5nAIcjD
— Chattanooga FireDept (@ChattFireDept) June 15, 2017
UPDATE at 8:54 p.m.: Bruce Garner, public information officer for the Chattanooga Fire Department, confirmed that an elderly woman has died as a result of the fire on Durham Drive.
Garner said a couple who lived across the street reported the fire at an elderly couple's home on Durham Drive. The husband ran to the home and started to bang on doors and windows, which is when two Chattanooga police officers who were in the area arrived.
He said when the neighbor and police officers went to the back of the home, they found the man trying to put the fire out with a water hose. The police officers tried to break the windows to get in to rescue the elderly woman, but the flames were too intense.
Firefighters arrived around that time and attempted to make entry.
"They were suited up, but the flames were too intense even for them," Garner said. "That's how one of the firefighters ended up with burns to his ear."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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UPDATE at 10:42 p.m.: The man who is believed to be the husband of the elderly woman who was killed by the fire on Durham Drive Thursday night, was taken to the hospital, according to a press release from the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Information on his condition was unavailable at the time.
The identity of the neighbor who tried to alert the elderly couple was also released. Joe Birchfield ran to the elderly couples house to alert them while his wife called 911.
"He said the front of the house was engulfed in flames, so he ran around to the back, where he saw the elderly man who lived there using a garden hose in a futile attempt to put the fire out," wrote Bruce Garner, public information officer for the fire department.
Firefighters eventually got the blaze under control, but the damage was extensive. Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said the elderly woman was found inside the house and was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the press release.
The names of the victims are being withheld until all next-of-kin have been notified.
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ORIGINAL REPORT: A firefighter and one resident were injured in a fire on the 1200 block of Durham Drive Thursday evening, according to Chattanooga Fire Department's Twitter account.
The firefighter is being treated for burns to his ear. Another victim was transported to a local hospital. It is unclear whether it was the resident or the firefighter who was taken to the hospital.
The fire was reported at 6:27 p.m., according to the 911 incidents web page.
Chattanooga Police Department was also on scene.
At 8 p.m., Bruce Garner, public informations officer for the fire department, said he was working on confirming additional details.
Contact staff writer Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.