Woman dies in Durham Drive fire

An elderly woman has died as a result of a Thursday evening fire on Durham Drive, the Chattanooga Fire Department confirmed.

Bruce Garner, public information officer for the fire department, said a couple who lived across the street reported the fire at an elderly couple’s home. One of the neighbors then ran to the home and started to bang on doors and windows, which is when two Chattanooga police officers who were in the area arrived.

Garner said when the neighbor and police officers went to the back of the home, they found an elderly man trying to put the fire out with a water hose. The police officers tried to break the windows to get in to rescue the elderly woman, but the flames were too intense.

Firefighters arrived around that time and attempted to enter the building.

“They were suited up, but the flames were too intense even for them,” Garner said. “That’s how one of the firefighters ended up with burns to his ear.”

The firefighter was treated for his burns, which a release described as not life-threatening.

The fire was reported at 6:27 p.m., according to Hamilton County’s 911 incidents web page.

Chattanooga Police Department’s Major Crimes division was also on scene, which is standard protocol.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.