Catoosa County Fire Department

Catoosa County Fire Department is honored to be able to participate in the first COVID-19 mass vaccination, by appointment, beginning today at The Colonnade. During today’s vaccination, persons 65 and older will be receiving the inoculation from our Advanced / Intermediate EMT’s, Paramedics, and other various Catoosa County Nurses. We also have our newest Recruits, currently enrolled in EMT School, and some of our EMT- B’s in attendance for wellness assessments after receip...t of vaccine as well as blood pressure checks and assistance with paperwork and questions. Great work from all involved who planned, organized and aided in getting this strategy implemented to serve our communities. If you are over 65, or the caregiver of someone over 65, and would like to register to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine during this phase, please call the Vaccine Hotline at 423-800-8004, Monday-Friday 8:00am 5:00pm. See more

On Saturday, January 23, 2021 at approximately 3:55pm, 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, TN responded with Rehab, and Tri-Community Fire, Whitfield County Fire, as well as Redbank Fire Department, stepped in to stand-by at respective CCFD stations for coverage. Catoosa 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. *Photos provided by Frank Pate Photography

Ember, our newest, temporary recruit has shown up again with another helpful safety tip! Ember says "If I can make a blanket out of the lint from your dryer, it's time to clean it out". Be sure to clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry and it would be a great idea to have the vent pipe cleaned out once a year. ... There are approximately 15,000 dryer fires per year in the United States. The unfortunate result are hundreds of injuries and $238 million in property damage! Keep your lint filter clean and you are sure to stay on the "Nice" list!

Catoosa County Fire Department has a special visitor this year! Meet Ember, our newest recruit. Ember is only here temporarily from NPFD, Station 19, and has offered to bring some cold weather tips to help us all remain on the "Nice" list and have an enjoyable holiday season! Ember's first tip - Make sure that your chimney and furnaces are clean, clear of debris and in good working order. Nearly 46,000 home heating fires occur in the U.S. each year, according to statist...ics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, resulting in approximately 205 deaths and 725 injuries per year, as well as more than $500 million in property losses. Ember and CCFD want you and your family to stay safe, check those chimneys and those furnaces! Stay tuned for more tips from Ember throughout December!