Oak Ridge Today

Eagles Homecoming is tonight, visitors welcome

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The Fraternal Order of Eagles in Oak Ridge has its homecoming tonight (Friday, August 23), and visitors are welcome.

The Eagles have rebuilt after a fire on Oak Ridge Turnpike in 2016 and are now doing a membership drive.

“Our building may have burned three years ago, but our new building is done and we are ready for more members,” an announcement said.

The Homecoming tonight will feature food starting at 6:30 p.m. until it’s gone. There will be an auction at 7:30 p.m. with bars signs, mirrors, and other items.

A band, Downtown Claxton, will perform after the auction, the announcement said.

[Read more…]

Fire apparently starts with oily rags, causes heavy damage to Eagles building

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Eagles-Fire-Side-Interior-Aug-13-2016

A fire caused heavy damage to the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 1650 Oak Ridge Turnpike early Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, authorities said. Damage is visible from a side door at the Eagles at about 4 a.m. Saturday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 14.

A fire that appears to have started with oily rags being stored improperly in a kitchen caused heavy damage to the Fraternal Order of Eagles on Oak Ridge Turnpike early Saturday, and the structure may have to be rebuilt, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 2 a.m. Saturday at 1650 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Eagles building, which has yellow siding, is the first building on the right side of the Turnpike as you head toward Kingston from Illinois Avenue.

There was heavy smoke coming out of all sides of the building when firefighters arrived, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

An Eagles member said the building had an alarm system, but there is no record of the alarm company calling 911 to report the fire, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said in a press release. Instead, a passing motorist saw the heavy smoke coming from the building and called 911 to report the fire. [Read more…]