Suspicious Fire Strikes Abandoned Restaurant in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TENN – Thursday, March 20, 2008 – The first day of Spring was beautiful in
Chattanooga with clear skies and temperatures in the sixties.  The nice weather prompted people to
get outside and enjoy themselves and for many East Brainerd residents that meant going to
Heritage Park on Jenkins Road with their children.  Things got very dangerous for those in the park
at around 6:30 PM though, as fire began to burn in a large two story brick building that once
housed the Narrow Bridge Restaurant.  

As many adults and children rushed to see what was happening, Quint 21 under the command of
Lt. Larry O’Rear arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor.  They laid
about 700 feet of supply line from a hydrant on Jenkins Road and then began to pull hand lines
from the roadway for several hundred feet up to the building.  As additional companies arrived
firefighters began an interior attack on the fire which was quickly spreading throughout the
building.  Due to the size of the structure the incident commander, Capt. David Powell called for a
second alarm bringing a total of eight fire companies to the scene.

Firefighters were able to knock the fire down fairly quickly but not before it caused substantial
damage to the interior of the building.  Once the fire was under control, the second alarm was
cancelled.  Firefighters remained on the scene for quite a while ensuring that the fire was
completely extinguished.

According to Bruce Garner, Public Information Officer for the Chattanooga Fire Department, the city
is in the process of purchasing the property for an extension of the park and plans are being made
to demolish the building.  The structure was originally built as a house before being turned into a
restaurant.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire.  Fire Investigator, Lt. Henry McElvain, responded to
the scene to conduct an investigation.  The building has been vacant for years, and the fire is
considered suspicious.  The Chattanooga Police Department, Hamilton County EMS and the
Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Squad all provided assistance.