The Oliver Springs Fire Department said it responded to a report of an explosion on Tri County Boulevard at Mahoney Road on Sunday evening.
“On arrival, members found a large brush pile that was on fire,” the Fire Department said in a post online. “The cause of the explosion was due to the use of gasoline as a source for ignition.”
There were no injuries or property damage. The fire was extinguished by Oliver Springs Fire Department personnel.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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njengland says
No wonder that explosion was so loud. I live at the corner of Mississippi and West Outer…. and when Mississippi used to extend down to Oliver Springs (as when I moved in about 55 years ago) it met Mahoney Road at about the spot of this explosion. Directly below my house by maybe a half mile. Rattled everything in the house!!
Ellen Smith says
The way our house shook, I thought a large branch had landed on the roof — never mind that the weather was perfectly calm.
njengland says
That sure was a wowser, wasn’t it, Ellen !? My first reaction was to look out from the deck (south-facing) to see if an airplane had crashed into the hill.
Ellen Smith says
The Oliver Springs Fire Department report makes it sound pretty inconsequential, but that’s definitely not the impression that folks in west Oak Ridge had.
johnhuotari says
We’ve received reports of people hearing that explosion from near Cedar Hill Park to Wellington Circle to west Oak Ridge, so I followed up with Oliver Springs Fire Department and have additional information I will try to post when I can.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Ellen. We published another story here: http://oakridgetoday.com/2017/09/22/os-fire-chief-provides-information-explosion-caused-gas-poured-barn-debris/
I hope that helps. Thank you.
Ellen Smith says
Thanks, John. The new article clarifies the nature of the event. It’s remarkably good luck that the man and his son avoided injury.