Oak Ridge Today

After burning 71 acres, Walden Ridge fire contained

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Walden Ridge Fire

Smoke plumes rise above Walden Ridge northeast of Oliver Springs on Tuesday, where a fire first reported Sunday burned about 71 acres before being contained.

OLIVER SPRINGS—The Walden Ridge fire first reported Sunday burned about 71 acres, but it is contained now, a state forester said Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews have been able to use a bulldozer to clear a line around the blaze and contain it, said Nathan Waters, assistant district forester for the Tennessee Division of Forestry. They also used leaf blowers to move leaves—which can serve as light fuel—away from homes along Dutch Valley Road and to help build fire lines.

Waters said firefighters, who have left Walden Ridge, will check back again this afternoon and also tomorrow. They could continue to check back until the area gets a significant rain. [Read more…]

CPD honors Officer of the Year, ‘Top Guns’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Sgt. Jim Campbell was recently recognized as the Clinton Police Department’s 2012/2013 Officer of The Year. This is Campbell’s second “Officer of The Year” award, having also earned the honor in 2005.

Among several administrative duties, Campbell also serves as the CPD’s training coordinator. He has been with the department since 2003. Chief Rick Scarbrough presented the award to Campbell at the annual police “range day” celebration, held Thursday, Oct. 24.

The CPD’s “Top Guns” were also recognized during the first annual “range day” pistol competition. Most of the department’s full-time and reserve officers participated. The top five were: [Read more…]

Follow-up: Roane shooting victim had been drinking, getting high

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Following up on a story reported Monday, a 44-year-old Roane County man who accidentally shot himself in the chest with a .22-caliber rifle on Sunday was treated for his injuries and released from the University of Tennesseee Medical Center that same night.

Steve Brooks was flown to UTMC after the incident on Edwards Lane, just south of Rockwood. The Roane County Sheriff’s Office said that he told emergency personnel that he had been drinking before the incident and admitted to having smoked crack cocaine, an admission verified by his live-in girlfriend and her adult son. [Read more…]

Walden Ridge fire near Oliver Springs grows to more than 30 acres

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Walden Ridge Fire

Smoke plumes rise above Walden Ridge northeast of Oliver Springs, where a fire first reported Sunday afternoon had grown to more than 30 acres by Tuesday morning.

OLIVER SPRINGS—A fire that was first reported Sunday afternoon on Walden Ridge a few miles northeast of Oliver Springs had grown to more than 30 acres by Tuesday morning, a state forester said.

The fire is on a steep hillside north of Dutch Valley Road between a Marlow Volunteer Fire Department fire station and Fox Lane.

The cause hasn’t been determined, but it was most likely arson, said Nathan Waters, assistant district forester for the Tennessee Division of Forestry.

He said the fire was originally reported as a campfire, but it appears to have started away from any trails or burn pits, and there was no lightning on Halloween, when smoke was first reported in the area. [Read more…]

Roane County man accidentally shoots self

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A Roane County man was injured Sunday evening when a .22-caliber rifle went off accidentally and shot him in the chest.

The incident occurred at around 5 p.m. at a home on Edwards Lane outside Rockwood. The victim, whose name was not immediately available, was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar for treatment of his injuries.

Deputies said the shooting appears to have happened as the man was handling the rifle and that it was purely accidental in nature.

WYSH: Pills stolen, ex-wife choked

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A Clinton man was arrested Thursday and charged with choking his ex-wife into unconsciousness after allegedly stealing prescription medication from her.

Jason Hobbs, 30, was at his ex-wife’s house on Thursday babysitting her children, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. When she returned to the home, she told deputies that she had found Hobbs asleep on her couch and discovered that more than 50 Xanax pills were missing from her room, which had been ransacked.

She said that when she woke him up to confront him, Hobbs choked her until she was unconscious. Hobbs was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault.

Reminder: Change clocks, smoke alarm batteries this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

With daylight savings time coming to an end this weekend and everyone setting their clocks back on Saturday night, the Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to remind everyone that it is time to change their smoke alarm batteries.

Smoke alarms should be checked at least once a month for proper operation and the batteries should be changed every six months. [Read more…]

Two taken to UT hospital after five-vehicle crash between Clinton, Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment


View Larger Map

Two people were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after a five-vehicle crash on State Highway 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The collision occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on SR 61 near Old Tacora Road, in front of Gibbs Ferry Park. According to preliminary information, it appears an elderly female was traveling eastbound on Highway 61 when she drifted across the center line and into oncoming traffic, said Dalya Qualls, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Safety. The woman attempted to swerve back into her lane when she struck a Chevrolet pickup truck, Qualls said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff releases Halloween safety tips

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Halloween will soon be upon us and our neighborhoods will be scattered with trick or treaters. To be sure this will be a fun and safe Halloween, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is offering these safety tips.

  • Parents, please remember when choosing your children’s costumes, face paint is preferable to a mask. Trick or treaters should wear reflective clothing, carry a bright orange bag, and carry a flashlight or glowstick to make it easier for passing cars to spot them. Always walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Parents and children alike should watch for cars at all times. [Read more…]

Chemistry experiment waste starts trash can fire in ORHS classroom

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Trash Can Fire

A small fire in a trash can in a chemistry classroom at Oak Ridge High School on Friday night was the result of an unintended reaction from waste products left over from a chemistry experiment earlier in the day. (Photos courtesy of Oak Ridge Fire Department)

A small fire in a trash can in a chemistry classroom at Oak Ridge High School on Friday night was the result of an unintended reaction from waste products left over from a chemistry experiment earlier in the day, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

The fire occurred just before 9 p.m. Friday. The classroom was filled with smoke when firefighters arrived, but they were able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire in a fire-resistant wastepaper container, which was inside a locked classroom, Kerley said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge woman indicted on attempted second-degree murder charge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Treasure Sheitel Threat

Treasure Sheitel Threat

An Oak Ridge woman who is accused of stabbing a Kingston resident in the stomach last summer after an argument in Grove Center has been indicted on charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Treasure Sheitel Threat, 26, of Lynwood Lane, has been jailed since the alleged incident on July 27, 2012. The grand jury indictments were filed Oct. 1.

Threat is accused of stabbing Kingston resident Stanley Wallace in the stomach in his car at the intersection of Robin Lane and Raleigh Road. [Read more…]

Video: ORFD demonstrates fire ‘flashover’ in three minutes

Posted at
By 4 Comments

Have you ever heard the term “flashover”? Do you know how fast fire spreads throughout your house? Do you have a home escape plan? For the answers to these questions, and more, watch this video from the Oak Ridge Fire Department.

The Fire Department demonstrates how a fire that starts in a trash can in the corner of a room can “flash over” at 1,150 degrees and engulf an entire room in flames in about three minutes.

ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said the Fire Department would prefer that residents not try to fight fires themselves unless they’ve had training in using a fire extinguisher and have it immediately available. [Read more…]