One resident injured in blaze at Highway 58 senior living apartments

Firemen check the roof of Silvertree Chattanooga, a retirement home in the 5400 block of Highway 58, after a fire broke out in a sixth floor apartment room after 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Firemen check the roof of Silvertree Chattanooga, a retirement home in the 5400 block of Highway 58, after a fire broke out in a sixth floor apartment room after 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
photo Firefighters extinguished a fire in a single room at Silvertree Apartments on Highway 58 that prompted the evacuation of several dozen elderly residents.

One injury was reported and a fire at a senior living apartment complex is under investigation after it forced residents from their homes Tuesday afternoon.

At 2:50 p.m., several agencies responded to Silver Tree apartments, formerly the Napfe Towers, located at 5465 Highway 58, according to a news release from Hamilton County Emergency Services spokeswoman Amy Maxwell. Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and reported heavy smoke coming from the sixth floor of the nine-story building.

Elevators were shut down for safety reasons, and firefighters climbed six flights of stairs, finding heavy smoke and fire coming from apartment 601.

Firefighters extinguished the fire within minutes and contained it to the front room of the apartment.

Fire officials said one person was injured in a fall during the evacuation and was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to a news release.

Firefighters ventilated the fifth through ninth floors, which suffered from heavy smoke.

Five apartments will not be "livable" because of the heavy smoke, but residents will be able to stay on another floor because of vacancies.

The cause of the fire 601 is undetermined and will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

The American Red Cross will work with the building manager of Silver Tree apartments in the event residents need temporary housing.

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