A wildfire burned about 18 acres of federal land in west Oak Ridge on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2017. The fire was on the Oak Ridge Reservation, U.S. Department of Energy land, south of Whippoorwill Drive and west of Wisconsin Avenue, in the area below (to the left of) the water tower pictured above. Smoke from the fire is visible near the water tower. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A wildfire burned about 18 acres of federal land in west Oak Ridge on Saturday afternoon.
The fire was reported on the Oak Ridge Reservation, U.S. Department of Energy land, at about 12:27 p.m. Saturday. It was west of Wisconsin Avenue and south of Whippoorwill Drive.
Firefighters initially reported it as about a five-acre fire in a cut between two ridges, said Ray Burney, Oak Ridge Fire Department captain. There is a trail down there, Burney said.
The fire was below East Ridge Boundary Road near a water tower in west Oak Ridge. It emitted smoke that could be seen hanging over neighborhood streets and above the trees from several miles away.
At about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oak Ridge Fire Department crews were cutting fire lines with hand rakes, Burney said. To contain fires, firefighters rake down to the dirt in a containment line that is about three to four feet wide.
The Tennessee Division of Forestry responded with a bulldozer at about 2:30 p.m. By then, the fire had grown a bit, to about seven to eight acres. The breeze on Saturday afternoon wasn’t helping, and the fire had jumped one containment line, Burney said. The Division of Forestry also sent crews to help fight the fire.
Saturday afternoon, Burney said the fire wasn’t close to any homes.
The fire, which mostly burned brush, was contained at about 7 p.m. Saturday. The Tennessee Division of Forestry had used a bulldozer to cut a containment line around it, Burney said. There were no injuries and no damage to property.
The cause is not known. It’s under investigation, Burney said.
He said the forecast calls for rain.
Besides Oak Ridge Fire Department and Tennessee Division of Forestry, DOE security forces also responded to the fire to help with traffic control and property gates.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
A wildfire burned about 18 acres of federal land in west Oak Ridge on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2017. The fire was on U.S. Department of Energy land south of Whippoorwill Drive and west of Wisconsin Avenue. The fire emitted smoke that hung over neighborhood streets. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A wildfire burned about 18 acres of federal land in west Oak Ridge on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2017. The fire was on U.S. Department of Energy land south of Whippoorwill Drive and west of Wisconsin Avenue (off to the right of this picture). The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded. So did the Tennessee Division of Forestry. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Jeanne Hicks Powers says
So thankful for all involved in containing and distinguishing this fire. Great job! This one was way too close for comfort!