Oak Ridge fire chief to pay tribute to 9/11, discuss firefighters

Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley will reflect on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks 12 years ago during a Wednesday presentation.

Kerley’s talk is titled “What 9/11 Means to Me: Reflections of a First Responder,” a press release said.

“It is a day that has taken on personal meaning to me and my family for multiple reasons,” Kerley said. “I am deeply honored to talk about 9/11 and about the tremendous team of firefighters we have assembled here in Oak Ridge.”

Kerley’s talk to the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge is at lunchtime Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel on South Illinois Avenue. In addition to paying tribute to the anniversary, he will discuss the recent successes of his team of firefighters as well as the current challenges they face as an organization, the release said.

Before coming to the Oak Ridge Fire Department, Kerley served for nine years as the fire chief for the U.S. Department of Energy at the former K-25 uranium-enriching site in west Oak Ridge. He served two years as an assistant to the firefighter grant peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and maintains advanced certifications in confined space and structural collapse rescue.

Altrusa International is a service organization comprised of community members focusing on leadership, partnership, and service with an emphasis on literacy and education.

The Wednesday meeting starts with a lunch buffet at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at noon. The public is invited to attend. Reservations are $13 each and may be made by sending an e-mail to [email protected] by Sept. 9.