An early morning fire in Hixson was caused by a portable space heater, officials say.
The fire began around 3 a.m. at a home on Orbit Drive while the owner had gone to the store, according to a news release from the Chattanooga Fire Department. When she returned, her house was on fire.
Capt. Scott Pell said smoke and flames were shooting out a bedroom window when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. As additional fire companies responded to the scene, Pell said the fire was beginning to spread into the attic. The firefighters took hand-held hoselines into the house and extinguished the fire in the attic and the bedroom. The rest of the house had substantial smoke and water damage.
No injuries were reported.
The homeowner and her dog will be staying elsewhere until repairs are made.