A fire that broke out at a residence in Ooltewah on Thursday was ruled accidental.
Tri-Com Battalion Chief Steve Wright said the house at 4927 Pattentown Road was about 25 percent engulfed in flames when firefighters from the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Chattanooga Fire Department arrived on the scene, but the front two rooms “flashed over,” causing the fire to spread more rapidly through the house. Wright said firefighters from both units got the fire under control within 15 minutes.
Captain Andrew Waters with the Fire Investigation Division, who determined the fire to be accidental, said the fire was caused by “reckless burning.” He said a woman who lived at the home was burning clothes in a garbage can on the front porch. The fire got out of control and spread to the rest of the house.
No injuries were reported, and damages were estimated at $75,000, according to fire officials. The investigation is ongoing.