07/29/2026
Last evening, a massive house fire broke out at a home on Gentlemen Ridge Road in the Town of Walden. A heroic 70-year-old grandmother rescued five young children from the burning home as first responders arrived on scene. No injuries were reported, and that is nothing short of miraculous.
I want to take a moment to thank the brave men and women of the Signal Mountain Fire Department, who responded as part of a large mutual aid effort alongside Walden's Ridge Emergency Service, Chattanooga Fire Department, Red Bank Fire Department, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue, and the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management.
The Town of Signal Mountain maintains the only 24/7 career fire department on the Walden Plateau, routinely providing front-line support for structure fires, cliff and trail rescues, medical emergencies, and serious accidents beyond our town limits. It's a service funded entirely by Signal Mountain taxpayers through property taxes. As the ridgetop continues to grow, particularly in the unincorporated areas of the plateau, the demands on our department are only increasing. This is a conversation our community and our county leaders cannot afford to put off.
I count our Signal Mountain firefighters among the most prepared and well-trained professionals in the region, and moments like this are a testament to that. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice.
To the family affected by last night's fire: our hearts are with you.
