East Ridge firefighters were able to save a home from extensive fire damage Monday afternoon.

It all happened at 8 Edwards Terrace around 4 p.m., where firefighters found the home to have heavy smoke and fire coming from the structure, said Officer Erik Hopkins, East Ridge public safety spokesman.

The first firetruck was on the scene within three minutes of getting the first call, Officer Hopkins said, and that allowed firefighters to quickly beat back the flames.

“Firefighters were able to save the home by working quickly to establish an aggressive interior attack of the fire,” he said. “A second crew, using a chain saw, cut a hole in the roof to ventilate the structure in order to reduce the amount of heat and smoke damage.”

The fire appears to have started in the kitchen and quickly spread to the attic. The 78-year-old occupant was cooking at the time of the blaze but escaped without injury. However she was transported to the hospital by Memorial EMS observation, Officer Hopkins said.

In addition to eight units of East Ridge’s fire department, Fort Oglethorpe also sent a unit to assist.

Due to the extreme heat, Hamilton County Rescue Mobile Rehabilitation Unit also responded to the scene for firefighter care.