Fire Sweeps through East Ridge Duplex EAST RIDGE, TENN – Thursday, December 6, 2007 – Just before 5:00 AM today, fire completely destroyed a duplex in East Ridge, Tennessee.  Firefighters received the call of an apartment fire at 3226 Castle Avenue and rushed to the scene on the western end of the city to find the building over half involved in flames and the fire spreading quickly. East Ridge Squad 1 and Engine 2 arrived very quickly but their efforts to fight the fire were hampered by the location of the duplex.  Several duplexes are located on the same narrow driveway that leaves Castle Avenue, goes downward and circles back to join the street.  Taking the fire apparatus onto the driveway was out of the question so they had to be parked on the street and lines run through the trees and down a hill.  Firefighters did an excellent job of aggressively attacking the fire but it had a major head start on them and they were unable to save the building.  The fact that the building was difficult to see from the street might also be a reason why the fire had time to build prior to the fire department being called. There were no injuries due to the fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the displaced families as both residences in the duplex were destroyed.  There was some collateral damage to the building next door from the intense heat and flames but families were allowed to re-enter that building. Even though East Ridge had sufficient resources to fight the fire, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia Fire and Rescue was asked to provide mutual aid so that the city would remain covered in the event of another incident requiring the presence of the fire department.  This is standard practice for both departments to assist one another in this way when fire breaks out.   Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue was on the scene to provide rehab in the cold weather.  The East Ridge Police Department also assisted, as did EMS.