Photo Courtesy of Frank Pate
This from the Catoosa County Fire Department shared by ERFD Chief Mike Williams on the fire department’s Facebook page.
On Saturday, January 23, 2021 at approximately 3:55 pm, Catoosa County 911 received multiple calls of an apartment building on fire, with residents entrapped. The Catoosa County Fire Department was dispatched immediately and arrived at Park Lake Apartments off Cloud Springs Road in Fort Oglethorpe and advised heavy smoke and flames coming from the 300 building with additional exposures.
During the search and rescue, CCFD was able to successfully remove an unconscious woman and her infant child from the top floor of the burning building. Another resident, who jumped from a balcony, received only minor injuries. Multiple Puckett EMS ambulances as well as Life Force arrived on scene to assist with any medical emergencies. Thankfully, only three residents were transported, two treated on scene and released, and no fatalities were reported.
All CCFD companies reported for manpower with many of our Volunteers and off-duty firefighters, as well as Walker County Engine 7, Walker Engine 2, Walker Ladder 6, and Walker Car 5, East Ridge, TN Squad 2, East Ridge Fire Chief, Mike Williams, as well as the State Fire Marshal.
Hamilton County responded with Rehab, and Tri-Community Fire. Whitfield County Fire, as well as Red Bank Fire Department, stepped in to stand-by at respective CCFD stations for coverage. Catoosa County EMA Deputy Director, Jason Gunter and Dewayne Wilson both assisted Assistant Chief, Brad Buchanan, with Command Center.
Special thanks to all of our area departments for their assistance and quick Mutual Aid response as well as our Catoosa 911 dispatchers, Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Oglethorpe Police Department. The joint efforts of CCFD, and responding departments, aided in the fire being contained to only one apartment building.
As devastating as this situation is, gratefully, no loss of life occurred with the residents or the many firefighters and personnel that were on scene.
