Hamilton Pointe accepting donations for residents; fire appears to be accidental, authorities say

Oct. 14--Updated Monday, Oct. 14 at 4:37 p.m. with additional information.

Hamilton Pointe Apartments will be accepting donations this week and next to help 32 residents who were displaced after a Saturday fire destroyed 16 apartment units.

Apartment staff members are accepting any personal or home need items such as clothing, shoes, furniture, toiletries, baby clothes and more. They will then disseminate the items to the residents.

Those dropping off items are asked to call when heading to drop off items. An employee will arrange the drop-off and meet donors at the garage where items are currently being stored. Hamilton Pointe can be reached at 423-499-4444. Monetary donations are also being accepted in the office at 6574 E. Brainerd Road.

The Red Cross is assisting residents who lost their homes.

"We are still working with each individual family to assist them in their recovery plan," according to a statement from the American Red Cross -- Tennessee Region. "We provided an Emergency Response Vehicle there to help feed people and first responders during the fire."

All residents had a place to stay with either friends or family. All had renter's insurance, according to the Red Cross.

The fire, which destroyed the complex's 1800 building , appears to have been accidental, but the exact cause is under investigation, authorities said Monday morning.

Several pets, including dogs and a rabbit, died in the fire that destroyed 16 apartment units. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation, according to a news release from Chattanooga Fire Department Public Information Officer Lindsey Rogers.

The blaze began late Saturday afternoon in a lower-level apartment, flames spread to a breezeway and then to an attic space and the rest of the building. The building, which was structurally damaged, was demolished to fully extinguish the fire, the release states.

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