Early morning fire leaves four homeless

A duplex fire on Rogers Road has left four adults homeless.
A duplex fire on Rogers Road has left four adults homeless.

An early morning duplex fire in the 4500 block of Rogers Road has left two families temporarily homeless.

The Chattanooga Fire Department announced today it sent five companies to contain the fire, which started in the kitchen of the "A" side of the duplex. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental. No injuries were reported.

When firefighters responded to the 3:01 a.m. call, "flames were beginning to get into the attic" before they could get the blaze under control, Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said.

The fire started when one of the "A" side residents left the kitchen while cooking. When the person returned to the kitchen, flames from the stove had reached the ceiling.

While the fire only burned the kitchen and attic, the rest of the duplex suffered smoke and water damaged, department spokesman Bruce Garner said.

Each apartment housed two adults.

Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS and American Red Cross volunteers responded to the scene.

Cooking equipment ranks as the leading cause of home structure fire and home fire injuries, Garner said, citing the National Fire Protection Association.

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