With the fire out, Chattanooga firefighters begin putting away their gear. Photo by Bruce Garner.Firefighters save Main Street building
Quick work by Chattanooga firefighters saved several downtown businesses Thursday night, according to a news release from the Chattanooga Fire Department.
A pedestrian saw smoke and flames coming from the two-story commercial structure at 400 E. Main St. and flagged someone down to call 911. The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 9:42 p.m. with six fire companies. Four of the fire companies came from Station 1 on East Main Street, about one block away.
Battalion Chief Lesley Morgan said the fire was on the second floor. Firefighters had the blaze under control in roughly 15 minutes, he said. Parts of the of the building had smoke and water damage, but most of the building was spared any fire damage. No injuries were reported.
First-floor businesses threatened by the fire included Chattanooga Engineering Group, Mountain City Construction, Chattanooga Real Estate Consultants, Inspire Chiropractic, Chattanooga Presents and Brent Sanders Art.
Employees and friends of Brent Sanders Art and Chattanooga Presents were kept back until the fire was out. Then firefighters helped them carry the artwork across the street. Other firefighters spread tarps to protect office equipment and furniture in the other businesses.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
East Ridge woman found dead in water
East Ridge police responded to Belvoir Hills Estates Thursday about 6:50 p.m. on a call about a “possible drowning.”
Police arrived at the apartments and found an elderly white female face down in about three to four inches of water on the back side of the building. East Ridge Fire Rescue and Lifeguard EMS, who also responded, were unable to find any signs of life in the victim, identified as Janet Bovell of 720 Bacon Trail.
Police believe Bovell died of natural causes and her body came to rest in the water, said Cpl. Robert Wade, spokesman for the police department.
Martha Berry, a neighbor of Bovell’s, told police that the victim had called her at around 7 a.m. that day and told her that she had fallen and couldn’t get up. Berry went to Bovell’s apartment and provided assistance. According to Berry, the victim seemed to be doing better, though she said she attempted to call Bovell periodically through the day to check on her.
Catherine Bovell, the victim’s daughter, told police that she had last spoken with her mother around 3 p.m. and that her mother sounded like she was doing better. Catherine Bovell told police she and her mother had made plans for dinner.
According to the victim’s daughter, Bovell had recently been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for pneumonia, and also dealt with other medical conditions such as depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.