Dozens forced from homes after apartment fire

An apartment fire at Rainbow Creek Apartments forced more than a dozen people from their homes early Thursday morning.

The Chattanooga Fire Department - 12 companies total - responded to the call around 3 a.m. and witnesses a large fire.

After checking to make sure the building was evacuated, firefighters discovered a woman was trapped in her bedroom on the second floor. Firefighters raised a ground ladder to the window and helped the woman down to safety.

It took roughly an hour for the firefighters to get the blaze under control. An estimate on the dollar loss was not available, but there was substantial damage to the building and most of the apartment units in it. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

One firefighter was transported to a local hospital with an injured ankle and was expected to be treated and released.

Standifer Gap Road was closed for several hours during the firefighting operation, but it was re-opened shortly after 6:00 a.m.

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