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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Six Chattanooga families return home after Bayberry Apartments walkway collapse; six others remain displaced

Chattanooga TN-- The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a collapse at 1101 Arlington Avenue tonight at 8:40. First arriving crews reported 2 people with injuries from a collapse of the walkway on the first floor. The 2 injured people were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Families from 6 apartments were evacuated with help from firefighters that constructed a temporary walkway using dimensional lumber and a fire ladder. Firefighters carried children across the temporary walkway to safety adult residence were assisted out of the building. The families were put up temporarily at the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center. Chattanooga Fire Special Operations conducted an assessment of the structure and it was decided to evacuate all 12 apartments until a building and a structural inspection could be made to deem it safe for occupancy. Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services assisted with this call.
Chattanooga TN-- The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a collapse at 1101 Arlington Avenue tonight at 8:40. First arriving crews reported 2 people with injuries from a collapse of the walkway on the first floor. The 2 injured people were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Families from 6 apartments were evacuated with help from firefighters that constructed a temporary walkway using dimensional lumber and a fire ladder. Firefighters carried children across the temporary walkway to safety adult residence were assisted out of the building. The families were put up temporarily at the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center. Chattanooga Fire Special Operations conducted an assessment of the structure and it was decided to evacuate all 12 apartments until a building and a structural inspection could be made to deem it safe for occupancy. Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services assisted with this call.

Six Chattanooga families remain displaced after a walkway collapsed at the Bayberry Apartments at 1101 Arlington Ave. Saturday night.

Two people were injured in the collapse inspectors determined was caused by rusting steel supports under the cement walkway. The victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, said Amy Maxwell, spokeswoman for Hamilton County Emergency Services. Their conditions have not been released.

The Chattanooga Fire Department was called to the apartment complex at 8:40 p.m. Saturday and initially evacuated families from six apartments with help from a temporary walkway built with lumber and a fire ladder.

Firefighters carried children across the temporary walkway to safety, and adults also were helped out.

After further inspection by Chattanooga Fire Special Operations personnel, it was decided to evacuate all 12 apartments until a building and a structural inspection could be made to deem it safe for occupancy.