A young member of the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department died in a blaze early Friday morning. He was identified as 24-year-old Shane Daughtee.
Several other firefighters were injured.
Firefigter Daughtee was trying to rescue a family, including the parents and child, when he fell two stories through the roof. The family had apparently already gotten out safely.
The fire was at a house on Gamble Road off Highway 58 about 20 miles north of Highway 153.
The 5,000-square-foot, $500,000 house was a total loss.
Officials said the homeowner made a 9-1-1 call at 12:30 a.m. reporting heavy smoke and fire at the 7697 Gamble Road address.
The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived on the scene confirming a fully involved house fire. The firefighters conducted an immediate search and rescue operation inside the home.
Amy Maxwell of Hamilton County Emergency Management said firefighter Daughtee fell through the floor and into the basement. She said, "An immediate rescue attempt was made and, in the course of this attempt, the rest of the structure collapsed, barring further attempts."
Highway 58 VFD requested a mutual aid response for additional resources and manpower. Bradley County Fire and Rescue, East Ridge Fire Department, Tri-Community VFD, responded to the scene. Red Bank Fire Department, Dallas Bay VFD, Walker County Fire Department, Catoosa County Fire Department, and Fort Oglethorpe Fire Department were on stand-by to cover Hamilton County.
Hamilton County EMS was on the scene and treated four firefighters who sustained minor burn injuries.
According to the homeowners, Randy and Terry Roark, they awoke to a popping sound and found the basement full of smoke and fire. They evacuated the home with their daughter and called 9-1-1. The cause of the fire is undetermined and will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff???s Department.
Shane Daughtee was an active firefighter with Highway 58 VFD for seven years. Just last month, he was recently awarded "Firefighter of the Year."
This is the first firefighter fatality for the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department. This is the third firefighter fatality in Hamilton County. Tri-Community VFD has two firefighter fatalities -- in 1952 and 1979.
Republished with permission of The Chattanoogan.
Funeral Information
Visitation for Firefighter Daughtee will be held Sunday, Jan. 28 from 2 p.m.-9 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at at Bayside Baptist Church, 6100 Highway 58, Harrison, Tenn.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m.
