Chattanooga, TN — The Chattanooga Fire Department conducted a hazardous materials response for an incoming patient to the emergency room at Erlanger Baroness Hospital Wednesday. At 11:55 AM on 5/13/26, Red Shift companies were dispatched to E 3rd Street for a patient that was suffering from injuries related to an industrial accident that occurred in Bradley County. The patient was transported from Bradley County to Erlanger via ambulance.
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Initially, it was believed that the patient had come in contact with titanium dust. Chattanooga firefighters set up decontamination with assistance from Erlanger officials. They entered the contained area outside of the ER to assess the patient and learned that the party had sustained burns from a lithium battery explosion. Precautions were taken to ensure that there was no hazardous material on the patient. Once that was completed, the patient was turned over to Erlanger personnel for further treatment.
A second injured patient from the Bradley County incident was reportedly taken to Atlanta for medical treatment.
CFD Special Operations Division, Hazmat 1, Squad 1, Engine 1, Ladder 1, and Battalion 1 responded.