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| Construction Supplies at New High School Burn, Cause Large Response HAMILTON COUNTY, TENN – Shortly after 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 11, 2008, the Tri Community Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a possible house fire in the Emerald Valley subdivision at East Brainerd Road and Ooltewah Ringgold Road. The caller reported seeing a large column of black smoke but was unsure what was on fire. As firefighters from Tri-Community VFD responded they could see the column from miles away. Nearing the intersection they located the fire at 1800 Ooltewah Ringgold Road, the construction site for the new East Hamilton County High School which is due to open in the fall of 2009. Firefighters determined that the fire, which was burning out of control, was a large amount of construction supplies consisting mainly of 17 tractor trailer loads of insulation which was producing the heavy black smoke. Firefighters were also told that there were several flammable chemicals located within the fire area. The Tri Community Volunteer Fire Department immediately requested a mutual aid response including hazmat and began battling the fire. Several hand lines were placed into service as well as the master streams from both ladder trucks and the deck guns from two engines. There was so much material spread out and already heavily involved when firefighters arrived that getting the fire under control proved to be very problematic. Eventually firefighters used foam to help extinguish the blaze. Mutual aid was provided by the Chattanooga Fire Departments Foam truck and their Haz Mat Chief. The Hamilton County Hazardous Materials team was also on the scene monitoring the air quality around the site. Hamilton County Emergency Management was assisting at the scene and Hamilton County EMS was on stand by for any potential injuries. Water Pollution personnel were on the scene attempting to control the runoff from the water and foam. Firefighters from Highway 58 VFD Engine 1651 assisted in fire suppression. Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia Engine 8, Catoosa County, Georgia Engine 13, Walker County, Georgia Air 7, East Ridge Engine 1, were used in a support role to check the areas for toxic levels, and to handle any calls for service in Tri Community’ s District. Bradley County Fire also had three pieces of apparatus standing by at station 4 for calls. The Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Squad provided much needed rehab and traffic control was handled by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. Due to the large amount of apparatus, the type of fire and the quantity of different mutual aid departments, East Ridge Director of Public Safety Eddie Phillips who is designated at MA-1 (Mutual Aid 1) for the area was on the scene to provide support. Officials ensured that children at the neighboring Westview Elementary School as well as residents of Emerald Valley subdivision were sheltered in place until the fire was placed under control. There were no reported injuries and no damage to the school itself. Damages were estimated to be about $500,000. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and is under investigation by the Tri Community VFD Fire Marshal’s Office. |
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