UPDATE: Fire Forces out Family of Six, Cause Could Be Meth Lab

An early Tuesday morning house fire forces a family of six out of their home.  Chattanooga firefighters rushed to the 5700 block of Taggart Road around 7 a.m.  The neighborhood is not far from Highway 153 and Grubb Road.

UPDATE from CHATTANOOGA FIRE DEPARTMENT -  Interviews that were conducted after the fire was contained indicated that there was a presence of chemicals that may be used in the production of methamphetamine. Chattanooga Police Department and the TBI Methamphetamine Task Force were called in to make a preliminary investigation. The results of that investigation are still pending.

Neighbors knew it was not good as soon as they stepped outside.  "Immediately I came outside and all I saw was just huge flames," says neighbor Adam Lance.  He was worried for his neighbors of fifteen years.  Six people lived in the house.  There were three adults and three kids.  All escaped with just minutes to spare.  "One individual said they heard some popping noises," says Chattanooga Fire Department Captain Phil Hyman.  "Then they all exited the house." 

The family has called this house a home for nearly thirty years.  The owner thinks the fire started somewhere in the back of the house, maybe on a wood deck.  The flames got so strong, so fast they chewed a hole through the living room roof.  Lance says even from his yard it was as hot as a mid-summer day in the south.  "I could feel the heat definitely."

That heat wore on the firefighters as well.  Even on this cool morning they had to take turns to save what they could while keeping themselves safe.  Several rotated in and out of the burning building to rest on the front lawn for a few minutes.  "They've probably been out here 30 or 40 minutes, working hard," says Captain Hyman.  "They come out, take their gear off for a minute, take a break and go back in and get the hot spots."

The house is likely a loss.  Some small things may be found inside.  But firefighters did pull one prized possesion out of the burning garage by hand.  The family's boat was spared from the same fate and their efforts were not lost on neighbors who watched them jump into action.  "The firefighters worked really fast and really quick and it was just amazing what they could do," says Lance.  Unfortunately sometimes, not even amazing is enough.

The owner says the house is insured.  He was not worried about losing the material things but there are some important medications they hoped would be ok. 

A spokesperson for the Chattanooga Fire Departmant said one adult suffered a minor burn to the hand but refused medical attention.