Walker County Fire Rescue crews continued to work multiple brush fires Tuesday along a 4-mile stretch from Rossville to the Chickamauga area, according to a news release from Walker County.
The fires appear to have been started by sparks from a train that ignited combustible material near the tracks in the area, the news release said.
Firefighters staging on Chris Lane saved more than a half-dozen houses from being burned. Except for Chris Lane, no evacuations were needed, as fire crews staged in areas with the greatest risk of exposure to homes and residents. Fire officials said one house on South Mission Ridge did burn, but no one was home at the time, according to the release.
Many Tri-State Mutual Aid agencies are assisting in the operation, including crews from Catoosa County, Dade County, Chattanooga, Red Bank, Highway 58, Dallas Bay, Whitfield County, McLemore, Georgia Forestry, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. About 100 firefighters are responding with 36 fire department units, the release said.
There will be smoke across northern Walker County for quite some time, and residents with respiratory issues are urged to stay inside, according to the release.
— Compiled by Jody Park