After spending an intense weekend battling a wildfire on Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga firefighters faced another challenge early Tuesday morning when crews responded to a fire at a grocery store.
The fire occurred at Huff Place off East 23rd Street.
“Upon arrival, units found heavy smoke coming from the building,” said Rick Boatwright, Operations Chief for the Chattanooga Fire Department. “The fire eventually broke through the roof.”
Chief Boatwright stated that crews arrived shortly after 1:00 a.m. Initially, firefighters attempted to battle the blaze inside the building, but they encountered significant obstacles.
“There were multiple layers of roofing that trapped the fire inside, along with a lot of debris in the building, which made accessing the fire’s source difficult,” explained Boatwright.
Fortunately, the building was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.
The grocery store was connected to two other businesses, which raised concerns about the fire spreading. Firefighters deployed an aerial master stream to attack the flames from above.
“We managed to contain the fire to just one building,” said Chief Boatwright. “Right now, we’re working to demolish that building to prevent the fire from spreading to the other two.”
Thanks to their efforts, the flames were contained, and public works brought in an excavator to tear down the damaged structure.
Chief Boatwright noted that the recent wildfire on Lookout Mountain, combined with responding to multiple residential fires, has left firefighters exhausted. He urged the public to take precautions, such as keeping flammable objects away from heaters and ensuring fire alarms are functional.
“It’s critical to check fire alarms regularly. If they are battery-operated, ensure the batteries are fresh, and if they’re over 10 years old, replace them,” emphasized Boatwright.
The cause of the grocery store fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation.