Fire crews battle a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.
Fire crews battled a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon.
The fire was burning in brush on a steep embankment about 20 feet high along the railroad tracks. It had also spread to nearby brush.
Smoke was visible over the east end of Oak Ridge at about 3:30 p.m., in the area east of Elza Gate Park.
Firefighters responded from the Oak Ridge Fire Department, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department, and Oliver Springs Fire Department. The Oak Ridge Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture also responded.
Witnesses told authorities that some railroad equipment had sent sparks flying around the time of the fire, but the City of Oak Ridge wasn’t able to confirm a cause on Friday night.
“Cause not determined, but they do not suspect arson,” the City of Oak Ridge said.
Firefighters were able to drive an Oak Ridge Fire Department engine down an access road along the railroad tracks and use a sprayer mounted on top of the truck to spray water on the fire. A smaller Oliver Springs Fire Department unit was also able to drive off-road to help fight the fire.
There are no fire hydrants in the area of the fire, and a Marlow Fire Department tanker was reported to have filled up with water from a nearby hydrant in Anderson County, hauled it back to the fire, and pumped it through hoses to the ORFD engine.
Firefighters used hand tools to help fight the fire, which was reported to be out before 7 p.m. Friday.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Brush fire along railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22. pic.twitter.com/HU5ETKVOTC
— OakRidgeToday (@OakRidgeToday) March 22, 2019
Fire crews battle a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Fire crews battle a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Fire crews battle a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Fire crews battle a brush fire near the railroad tracks at Elza Gate in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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