Police News Briefs: No fire deaths in city in 2012

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Chattanooga Fire Chief Randy Parker

No fire deaths in city in 2012

Nobody in Chattanooga died in a fire-related death last year, the city's fire department announced Tuesday.

Fire Chief Randy Parker said that, in part, nobody died in 2012 because the department educated residents about how to prevent fires. But Parker also added that some fires can't be prevented and that last year might have been lucky.

"We always strive to prevent all fire fatalities in Chattanooga, but we're usually disappointed," Parker said in a news release. "This is obviously good news for us and the city we serve."

Most fire-related deaths happen before firefighters arrive, according to the news release, because of heat and toxic smoke. In 2011, eight people died from fires in Chattanooga. The year before, three people died.


Woman charged in auto burglary

Stephanie B. Honeycutt, 29, of Hixson, has been charged with two counts of burglary of an auto and two counts of theft in connection with incidents last week.

She is set to appear on Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. in East Ridge Municipal Court.

Last Friday at 11 p.m. East Ridge police responded to an auto burglary at 913 State Line Road. The victim told police she saw her car door open and a woman carrying items that had been inside the auto.

The suspect had fled in a black Nissan though she left items she was carrying. However, police said a GPS system still was missing.

Another victim told police his vehicle had been entered and items were missing. He also provided police with the tag number of the suspect and later identified her.