Oak Ridge Today

Motel 6 fire in Clinton causes estimated $550,000 in damages

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Clinton Motel 6 Fire

A fire at the Motel 6 in Clinton on Thursday afternoon caused an estimated $550,000 in damages, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A Thursday afternoon fire at the Motel 6 in Clinton that apparently spread from a mulch bed outside the building to the roof and attic damaged at least 20 rooms and caused an estimated $550,000 damage, authorities said.

The two-story hotel is off state Highway 61 near Interstate 75. The fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured.

The flames went up the side of the building and, driven by high winds, made it to the attic, where the fire burned through the roof, WYSH Radio in Clinton reported. Officials said at least 20 rooms were damaged by fire, and a large part of the rest of the building received smoke and water damage. [Read more…]

Fire destroys mobile home in Marlow

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Marlow Mobile Home Fire

An unoccupied mobile home was destroyed, but no one was injured in a fire early Sunday morning on Cumberland View Road in Marlow. (Photos by Tom Scott)

An unoccupied mobile home was destroyed, but no one was injured in a fire early Sunday morning on Cumberland View Road in Marlow, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 2:45 a.m. near Laurel Road, which is east of Oak Ridge and north of Highway 61.

The home was destroyed, said Stephanie Fox, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department assistant chief. [Read more…]

Fire apparently caused by cigarette damages Tara Hills apartment

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Tara Hills Apartment Fire

A fire apparently caused by cigarette smoking caused minimal damage to a second-floor Tara Hills apartment on Wednesday afternoon.

A fire apparently caused by cigarette smoking caused minimal damage to a second-floor Tara Hills apartment on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

No one was home when firefighters arrived at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department assistant fire chief.

The fire caused an estimated $1,000 in damages, mostly to the building’s exterior, Waldo said.

Firefighters found an ashtray on the porch. They removed exterior paneling after they spotted smoke behind it.

Car burns on Hillside Road

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Hillside Road Car Fire

A car caught fire on Hillside Road near Hunter Circle on Saturday morning. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A car caught fire on Hillside Road at about 11:43 a.m. Saturday.

The car’s owner was driving west on Hillside Road near Hunter Circle when smoke started coming out from under the dash after she turned off her heater, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said. She unlatched the hood and her passenger disconnected the battery, but the car, owned by Louise Long of Oliver Springs, had already started to burn.

By the time firefighters arrived, the passenger compartment was on fire, the report said. They were able to extinguish it with a water hose. [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department investigates Lake City fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County investigators are looking into the cause of a fire that destroyed a home on Old Fraterville Hollow Road near Lake City Monday night.

The home’s owner, Kenneth Duncan, had been allowing his sons to stay at the home when the fire broke out Monday night. The two sons—Eddie and Anthony Duncan—along with a woman staying at the house with them had been visiting neighbors when one sibling saw an orange glow coming from the direction of the house.

[Read more…]

Small fire at EMS station goes out when power cut

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Anderson County EMS Fire

The Oak Ridge fire and electric departments respond to a small fire in a meter box at the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Station 2 on Raleigh Road. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A small fire at a meter box at the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services station on Raleigh Road went out when the power to the building was cut, authorities said.

The electrical fire occurred at ACEMS Station 2 at about 4:55 p.m. Friday.

Weather had caused a service line to spark, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department assistant fire chief. There was no damage to the building, which once housed the Oak Ridge Fire Department Alarm Office.

[Read more…]

Report: Child playing with lighter under bed when fire found

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East Tennessee Avenue Mattress Fire

A child admitted playing with a lighter under a bed when a mattress fire was found in an East Tennessee Avenue home Monday night, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A child admitted playing with a lighter under a bed in a home on East Tennessee Avenue when a mattress fire was found at about 7:04 p.m. Monday, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said.

Firefighters reported light smoke inside the house when they arrived, and they quickly found a smoldering mattress fire in a bedroom inside, the report said.

They reported the fire was under control, ventilated the home, and removed the mattress and box frame.

[Read more…]

No one injured, home destroyed in suspicious Sunday morning fire

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Hillside Road House Fire

No one was injured in a suspicious Sunday morning fire that destroyed a home on Hillside Road, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

No one was injured, but a home was destroyed in a suspicious Sunday morning fire on Hillside Road, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

“It’s under investigation, but it appears to be suspicious in nature,” Kerley said.

The renters at the home were moving to Knoxville, and most of their belongings had been removed, Kerley said. The home had no power or utilities, and no one was home at the time of the fire.

[Read more…]

Few months after fire, Magic Wok passes city inspections, needs one from county

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Oak Ridge Fire Department at Magic Wok

Damaged by smoke in November, the Magic Wok restaurant, which has been closed for several months, has passed all city inspections but still needs one from the county.

Several months after it was damaged by smoke, the Magic Wok restaurant has passed all city inspections, and the diner now needs an inspection from the Anderson County Health Department, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said Thursday.

The landmark Oak Ridge diner on Tyler Road passed a fire inspection Thursday morning, Waldo said.

The Magic Wok has been closed since  it was damaged by smoke in November after food was left cooking on a stove unattended. Firefighters didn’t see any flames that night, but they found smoke and high temperatures.

[Read more…]

Smoking apparently caused fatal fire Monday

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Decatur Road House Fire

Smoking appears to have caused the fatal house fire that killed one person and a dog on Decatur Road on Monday afternoon, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Smoking appears to have caused the Monday afternoon fire that killed one person and a dog, fire officials said Tuesday.

“We’re not positive yet, but (the cause of the fire) could be smoking in the living room,” Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

Kerley said the victim’s body was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for an autopsy and identification. The victim appeared to be a man, he said.

Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said Tuesday afternoon that the victim died in the fire.

[Read more…]

One person dies in Decatur Road house fire

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Decatur Road House Fire

One person died in a Monday afternoon fire at a home at the corner of Decatur Road and Delaware Avenue. (Photo by Tom Scott)

One person died in a Monday afternoon house fire on Decatur Road, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said.

Authorities aren’t releasing the name or age of the person, pending notification of relatives. Authorities also wouldn’t say where the person was in the house during the fire.

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments are investigating the cause of the fire, which was concentrated around the home’s back porch and living room and sent thick gray and black smoke billowing skyward.

[Read more…]

Fire flares on Decatur Road back porch

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Decatur Road Fire

Oak Ridge firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at a Decatur Road home on Monday afternoon.

Oak Ridge firefighters quickly extinguished a fire that briefly raged at a Decatur Road home on Monday afternoon, including on the back porch.

Neighbors reported smoke at the home at about 2:45 p.m. Monday.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department appeared to bring the fire under control within a few minutes and later entered the home, which is at the intersection with Delaware Avenue. Firefighters remained on the scene more than 90 minutes afterward.

More information will be added as it becomes available.