56-year-old man dies while trying to put out kitchen fire in Chattanooga

A Chattanooga man died of smoke inhalation while trying to put out a grease fire Sunday afternoon, fire officials say.

Fred Wyatt Jr., 56, died while being transported to the hospital, according to Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner.

Firefighters received the call at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and responded to 1501 E. 13th St. with five fire companies, said Garner.

Upon arrival, the firefighters were able to extinguish the relatively small fire with a portable fire extinguisher, Garner said.

Fire Capt. Randy Steele said one adult male and two small children were placed inside one of the fire trucks to get them out of the cold. Another adult male, Wyatt, said he preferred to sit on the front porch.