Chattanooga fire investigators blame an electrical malfunction for sparking a fire in a large home in the Mountain Creek Road area this morning, according to department spokesman Bruce Garner.
Chattanooga fire investigators blame an electrical malfunction for sparking a fire in a large home in the Mountain Creek Road area this morning, according to department spokesman Bruce Garner.Chattanooga fire investigators blame an electrical malfunction for sparking a fire in a large home in the Mountain Creek Road area this morning, according to department spokesman Bruce Garner.
They also believe a “hot spot” created by the first fire ignited a second fire in the same house at 5746 Bobby Dale Lane, which completely destroyed the structure, Garner said.
Homeowner Heinz Lange told firefighters that he was sleeping when he awoke around 5 a.m. to the smell of smoke. He said the smoke blocked him from going downstairs, so he escaped through a bedroom window, scraping his arm. Once outside, he called 911.
Chattanooga firefighters located the fire in the downstairs laundry room and the firefighters got the blaze out quickly.
The rest of the house had smoke damage, but most of the fire damage was contained to the laundry room area, Garner said.