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| Commercial Fire Puts East Ridge to the Test EAST RIDGE, TENN – At about 1:15PM, Sunday, July 12, 2009, the 9-1-1 center began receiving numerous calls reporting a commercial structure fire in the 5700 block of Ringgold Road. East Ridge Squad 2 was only seconds away from the structure and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from a single story building housing two businesses, Pricebusters Furniture and O’Reillys Auto Parts. A hydrant was located immediately in front of the building and Squad 2 hooked up providing a positive water source. Within a minute, Commander Mike Williams, Battalion 1, arrived and assumed command. He immediately ordered an “all call” for personnel, a full commercial assignment and second alarm plus special call for certain equipment. Quint 1 arrived and positioned at the D/A corner and put the stick up in case the fire vented through the roof. It was quickly determined that the seat of the fire was located in the Pricebusters near the back of the building. Two, two and a half inch lines were pulled to the A side. One was readied for an interior attack and the deck gun was taken from Squad 2 and placed on the ground at the front of the building using the second line. An additional 2 ½ inch line was pulled to the B side, C end of the building. Firefighters took the windows on the front of the building to provide ventilation and the Squad 2 crew began to advance inside. Heavy fire was located inside the business and heavy black smoke immediately banked all the way to the floor making visibility zero. Firefighters knew the business and the fact that the very crowded layout changed almost daily making it impossible to anticipate how to maneuver through the building. Given the fact that the business was closed and no one was present a decision was made to attack the fire from the exterior. Additional East Ridge apparatus. Engine 1 and Engine 2, Rescue 1 and Haz Mat 1 responded. Engine 2 laid an additional supply line about 600 feet from a second hydrant to provide additional water. Fort Oglethorpe (Georgia) Ladder 1 positioned at the B/C corner. Catoosa County (Georgia) Engine 3 and Engine 6, Red Bank Engine 1, Tri-Community Engine 1241, and Rossville (Georgia) Engine 3 supplied personnel. Firefighters made a great hit on the fire and were able to stop it before it spread into the auto parts store. Salvage and overhaul took an extended amount of time due to the sheer volume of furniture and other household items inside. The building inspector deemed to the building unsafe and O’Reillys was unable to reopen until further notice. Walker County (Georgia) backed an Engine Company into Fort Oglethorpe Station 1 for coverage and Walker County State Prison firefighters were called on for coverage in Catoosa County. Paramedics from Lifeguard EMS and Memorial EMS were on standby but no injuries were reported. Air services and rehab were provided by Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Squad. Ringgold Road, a major east-west thoroughfare was closed to all traffic for hours by the East Ridge Fire Department. The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the East Ridge Fire Department. A dollar value has not yet placed on the loss but damage is extensive. |
