Fire damages Midnite Oil gas station in Ooltewah

Feb. 08--Two fire departments responded to a fire at Steve Ray's Midnite Oil Service & Tire Direct on Lee Highway in Ooltewah on Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the Chattanooga Fire Department.

Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department firefighters arrived at around 10:30 a.m. to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the building, and called for the CFD to help extinguish the blaze.

Firefighters put out hot spots in the walls and roof of the building and a hazmat team was called in to clean up petroleum products that had leaked out during the fire.

Fire damage was contained to the shop area, but the office took some smoke and water damage. The rest of the building and gas pumps were all spared from the flames. No injuries were reported.

Owner Steve Ray told firefighters that he and some employees were draining a gas tank when the fumes found an ignition source and a fire broke out.

Ray said he tried to use portable fire extinguishers to put the fire out, but they were ineffective, so he had to call 911.

"I'm just glad no one got hurt," Ray said in the release. "I have insurance and things can be replaced."

The dollar loss has been estimated at $300,000 and the business is worth $1.5 million, according to the release.

The fire has been ruled accidental, although the cause is under investigation.

Ray's Midnight Oil has been in business for 35 years in Ooltewah.

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This story was updated Feb. 8, 2018, at 11:59 p.m.

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