Firefighters worked feverishly to extinguish a blaze Wednesday that gutted a large portion of Shooter's Depot.
Bruce Garner, spokesman for the Chattanooga Fire Department, said two customers were in the Shallowford Road shooting range when they saw smoke and told store employees the building was on fire. The owner, John Martin, grabbed a fire extinguisher but was unable to put out the flames and the building was evacuated.
The Chattanooga Fire Department initially responded with six fire companies, but a second alarm response was called. The fire was located in the attic space above the indoor shooting lanes and part of the ceiling collapsed when firefighters tried an interior attack.
The firefighters then fought the blaze from the outside, using handheld hoses and master streams from several aerials above.
Fortunately, ammunition is kept in a separate part of the building, and the more than 50 firefighters who responded managed to prevent the flames from reaching any bullets. The showroom and office area were saved, but the shooting lanes and classroom sustained significant damage.
No one was injured in the fire, but the material losses are extensive. The company employs 15 full- and part-time employees.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.