PHOTO by BILL CARSON

On March 17 at 0245 HRS, the City Of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Fire Department dispatched several engine companies to a working commercial structure fire at C & J Pawn Shop on the corner of North Chamberlain Avenue and Glass Street in East Chattanooga. The fire was already confirmed by several Chattanooga police officers and a few local residents who called 911. City of Chattanooga Engine No. 4 was first to arrive on the scene with Captain Andy Carson in command. He reporting smoke coming from the building.

Within seconds of arriving on scene, firefighters with Engine No. 4 discovered how well seated the fire already was as it blew out several windows and erupted in flames. Captain Carson immediately called for a second alarm response to bring additional fire crews and equipment to the scene. Several interior attacks were attempted but quickly stopped due to the intensity of the fire and the unsafe and quickly deteriorating structural stability. Firefighters took up positions outside and dug in as they staged an aggressive defensive attack. Within minutes of initiating the defensive attack, flames broke through the roof.

Battalion Chief Winston Shields arrived with the additional companies coming to the scene, and he quickly assumed command. Although the pawn shop and an adjacent building was going to be a total loss, firefighters were able to save several other business in the same row of structures.

Twelve City of Chattanooga fire companies, including engines, quints and rescue companies responded to the two-alarm fire. It took the fire crews nearly four hours of steady, aggressive firefighting to extinguish the blaze. City of Chattanooga police, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue and Hamilton County EMS were on the scene to assist. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.