Area firefighters battle four blazes over the weekend
Fires across the Chattanooga area over the weekend destroyed two structures and a business and damaged another home.
The most recent happened early Monday morning at Patron Mexican Grill on Taft Highway.
The fire was reported about 6:30 a.m. by a passing motorist who saw heavy smoke coming from the restaurant, according to a statement issued by Hamilton County Emergency Services.
When Waldens Ridge Emergency Services arrived, there was fire coming through the roof. More companies from Signal Mountain, Red Bank, Chattanooga, Dallas Bay and Hamilton County Marine and Rescue responded.
At one point, authorities were forced to close two roads as fire companies worked to put out the blaze.
No injuries were reported, officials said, but Hamilton County EMS was on-site for any potential injuries to firefighters.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hamilton County Fire Investigation Task Force, officials said.
But because the building’s floors were wooden, it will likely be at least five days before investigators can even get into the building to begin investigating, said Amy Maxwell, spokes-
woman for Hamilton County Emergency Services. And a cause may not be determinable because of the destruction of the building.
In the meantime, fire officials have asked the public to stay away from the area.
Monday morning’s incident came after three other fires broke out Sunday.
At around 5 p.m., a garage off Old Dayton Pike in Sale Creek was destroyed.
The garage was detached, so there was no damage to the home, and no injuries were reported.
Maxwell said the cause hasn’t been determined but it likely will be ruled accidental.
Then at around 8:15 p.m., a Walden’s Ridge home in the 500 block of Grayson Way, just across the Sequatchie County line, was destroyed by fire. There were no injuries.
Firefighters with the Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and found flames coming through the roof, and more firefighters from Waldens Ridge Emergency Services responded to assist, officials said.
The cause of that fire is under investigation by the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office.
Lastly, a candle is being blamed for a fire that broke out at around 10:30 p.m. in the 4200 block of Tee Pee Drive.
The home was damaged but the fire, which has been ruled accidental, was extinguished in about 25 minutes.
Several fire companies responded to that scene, as well, according to a statement by Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner.
Battalion Chief Nate Middlebrooks said the fire appeared to have started in the living room of the home. The resident told firefighters that he left a candle burning unattended in that room.
The man said he tried several times to extinguish the fire himself before giving up and calling 911.
Knowing when to call 911 depends on a number of factors, Garner said.
“Basically, if you can’t put the fire out yourself within a few seconds, then get out and call 911 immediately,” he said. “The faster our firefighters get to your fire, the faster they can put it out and limit the damage.”