The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a fire today, July 27, at Bayberry Apartments at 2300 Windsor Street. (Photo by Bruce Garner/Chattanooga Fire Department)UPDATE: The cause of yesterday's fire at Bayberry Apartments has been ruled accidental.
The fire started in Apartment 108, and the resident told fire investigators that she left a candle unattended in one of her child's bedrooms.
Investigators are still working to confirm it was a candle that started the fire, but they do think the cause was accidental.
Capt. David Brooks estimated the dollar loss at $50,000 to apartments 108 and 110. In containing the fire to two units, the firefighters saved the rest of the building, which has a total of 12 apartment units valued at $640,000.
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Chattanooga Fire Department received an alarm about 1:30 this afternoon and responded with six fire companies to Bayberry Apartments at the 2300 block of Windsor Street.
Ronald Boyd, who lives nearby, was one of the first to spot the flames and ran to the two-story apartment building to alert the occupants, according to a news release.
Officer Michael Favors with the Chattanooga Police Department also assisted in alerting the occupants. All got out safely. Capt. David Brooks with Engine 4 said smoke and flames were shooting out a second story window when the first firefighters arrived on the scene.
As additional firefighters began to arrive, some firefighters took in hand-held hoselines to make an interior attack, while others got on the roof to cut ventilation holes and to gain access to the fire in the attic. Firefighters got the fire out in roughly 20 minutes. Brooks said two of the apartment units had substantial fire damage, while two others had relatively minor damage. At least two of the units were vacant.
The fire displaced a mother and her three children. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the victims.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.