By Bruce Garner
A kitchen fire late last night could have ended in tragedy for a mother and her daughter, but two things worked in their favor: a working smoke alarm and Chattanooga (TN) firefighters. The fire broke out in an apartment located at 2188 Camden Oaks Drive. A neighbor heard a smoke alarm activate and called 911.
When the first firefighters arrived on the scene just before midnight, no smoke was visible. Captain Wadie Suttles with Engine 4 said they couldn’t see anything through the windows and there was no sign of a fire. After considering their options, the decision was made to force their way inside. Captain Suttles said there was a moderate amount of smoke inside as they made their way upstairs. The firefighters quickly found a 28-year-old female on her bed, semi-responsive. In the other bedroom they found the woman’s four-year-old daughter unresponsive on her bed. Her pet dog was on the bed with her, barking. Firefighters think the dog was barking in an effort to wake her up to the danger.
Chattanooga firefighters carried the two victims out and administered oxygen to them. Captain Suttles said both victims were alert and talking within minutes of being removed from the apartment. The victims were then handed off to medics with Hamilton County EMS, who in turn transported the mother to Erlanger Medical Center and the child to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The dog appeared to be okay and was left with neighbors.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in the kitchen and then ventilated the apartment. Captain Andrew Waters with the Fire Investigation Division ruled the cause of the fire accidental, from food being left unattended on the stove.
Details on what exactly happened are still being obtained. The investigation will continue. Chattanooga police also provided assistance on the scene.
