Chattanooga firefighters work Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, to extinguish a fire on Colonial Shores Drive in Hixson.
Chattanooga firefighters work Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, to extinguish a fire on Colonial Shores Drive in Hixson.High winds helped a fire destroy a home in the Big Ridge community in Hixson on Monday, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department.
The department received the initial alarm about 2 p.m. and responded to 1826 Colonial Shores Drive with six fire companies.
Flames and smoke were visible when the first firefighters arrived, spokesman Bruce Garner said. Firefighters were initially told that someone may still be inside the home, he said, so the firefighters entered the home to search.
They did not find anyone inside, and were forced to pull out of the home when the flames burned through the roof because that greatly increases the danger of falling debris, Garner said.
“They were pulled out for their own safety,” Garner said as the fire raged. “Now they’re fighting a defensive attack, which basically means they surround and drown.”
“Unfortunately there is a lot of damage to this house,” he said.
Firefighters said that the strong winds helped the fire spread early on, making it that much more difficult to get the blaze under control. It took more than an hour before firefighters were able to get most of the fire out, but they remained on the scene for several hours to put out the remaining hot spots.
Though the garage was saved, the house is considered a total loss. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were told that three people live in the house and all were reportedly away at the time of the fire.
Chattanooga police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.