Oak Ridge Today

Search Results for: fire

Three displaced, no injuries in house fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Three adults were displaced, but no one was injured in a house fire on Jonathan Place this past weekend, firefighters said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department was called to a structure fire on the 200 block of Jonathan Place around 9:22 p.m. Friday. Crews arrived at 9:26 p.m. and found smoke coming from the residence. The fire was under control by 9:32 p.m., a press release said.

An initial investigation showed that cause of the fire was determined to be an improperly extinguished cigarette, the press release said.

ORFD, Oak Ridge Police Department, Anderson County EMS, and American Red Cross responded to the scene.

[Read more…]

Eric Rackard is new Oak Ridge fire marshal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Eric Rackard

The City of Oak Ridge has named Eric Rackard as its new fire marshal.

Rackard, who has recently served as an Oak Ridge Fire Department battalion chief, takes on the new role following Travis Solomon’s promotion to fire chief last month. Rackard joined the department in November 2007, a press release said.

“I am honored by this promotion and greater opportunity to serve the citizens of Oak Ridge,” Rackard said in the press release.

In the role of battalion chief, Rackard managed daily operation requirements for the Fire Department’s A Shift, including staffing, overtime, training, and logistics. 

“I was also responsible for command and control on all major incidents on A Shift,” Rackard said. “I also lead a lot of trainings, including coordinating state commission training and serving as the hazardous materials team leader.”

[Read more…]

Solomon named Oak Ridge fire chief

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Travis Solomon (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge has named Travis Solomon as its new fire chief.

Solomon, who previously served as Oak Ridge Fire Department fire marshal, has served as interim fire chief since former Chief Darryl Kerley’s departure in August. Solomon begins serving as fire chief immediately, a press release said.

“Oak Ridge has always been the model and leading fire service,” Solomon said in the press release. “I want to continue that and enhance the services we provide to better our ability to serve the public.”

[Read more…]

Smoke lingers over west Oak Ridge due to barn fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Smoke was lingering over west Oak Ridge today (Wednesday, October 21) due to a barn fire off Johnson Road in Oliver Springs yesterday.

The smoke was lingering over west Oak Ridge because of heavy fog Wednesday morning, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

Fire chief leaving ORFD to become teacher for state

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley is leaving the Oak Ridge Fire Department on Friday, August 21, and he will become a full-time fire service instructor and coordinator for the State of Tennessee, a press release said.

Kerley has 43 years of active fire service with four different fire departments, the press release said. He was fire chief of three of those departments for 22 years.

Besides serving his last day as fire chief in Oak Ridge on Friday, August 21, Kerley will mark another milestone that day: It will be the last day of his six-year appointment to the Tennessee Commission on Firefighter Standards and Education.

“Serving as fire chief for the important and historical City of Oak Ridge and being appointed to the Fire Commission by Governor Bill Haslam have been the highlights of my professional career,” Kerley said in the press release. “It truly has been an honor and privilege to serve as fire chief of such a great city and to be part of the development of the national park at the K-25 site and the K-25 History Center. This is one of the finest fire departments I’ve ever been associated with and has some of the best-trained people in the State of Tennessee.”

[Read more…]

No injuries but home destroyed by fire on East Pasadena

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

No one was injured, but a home was destroyed by a fire on East Pasadena Road in Oak Ridge early Monday, July 27, 2020. (Submitted photo)

No one was injured, but a home was destroyed by a fire in Oak Ridge last week.

The fire was reported in the 100 block of East Pasadena Road early Monday, July 27, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire at the home around 3:16 a.m. last Monday. When they arrived, fire crews found that 25 percent of home was on fire, with flames coming through the roof in the back corner.

Three engines, a tower truck, rescue truck, and battalion chief fought the fire for approximately 20 minutes before gaining control, the ORFD said. The Oak Ridge Electric Department responded to disconnect the power at the pole, and the Oak Ridge Police Department provided security.

[Read more…]

Anderson County has fireworks Saturday night

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2017. (File photo by D. Ray Smith)

There are fireworks in Anderson County for Independence Day this evening.

The fireworks are funded by Anderson County with help from private donations from businesses and residents.

Anderson County commissioners debated last month whether to have the fireworks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also debated how much to spend, with potential amounts ranging between $12,000 and $20,000. The goal was to get to a total of about $20,000.

The fireworks show will start at 9:45 p.m. today (Saturday, July 4) at Anderson County High School. The high school campus will be closed to the public.

Anderson County High School is at 130 Maverick Circle in Clinton, close to Exit 122 on Interstate 75. The Anderson County mayor’s office recommended that anyone watching the fireworks from public areas around Exit 122 use social distancing, which generally means staying six feet away from people who don’t live with you.

There are normally fireworks in cities such as Oak Ridge, but those displays have been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, in what could be a one-time event, the county is hosting and helping to fund the display.

[Read more…]

Apartment kitchen fire displaces seven residents

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Seven apartment residents were displaced after a kitchen fire on Wakefield Road on Friday, but no injuries were reported.

The fire was reported at about 8 p.m. Friday.

When crews arrived, the Oak Ridge Fire Department found a kitchen fire in one of six apartments. The fire was quickly extinguished, but there was heavy fire damage to that apartment, the ORFD said.

[Read more…]

Updated: July 4 Fireworks Celebration canceled this year

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The annual fireworks show was in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (File photo by D. Ray Smith)

Note: This story was updated at 11:30 p.m. June 10.

The July 4 Fireworks Celebration in Oak Ridge has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release, the City of Oak Ridge said the challenges related to COVID-19 include:

  • The Oak Ridge Community Band has canceled its performance.
  • Surrounding areas have also canceled similar events.
  • Those attending the July 4 Independence Day celebration would not be able to successfully follow the social distancing requirements established by the State of Tennessee and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The city said there is a risk of larger crowds and more traffic because other nearby events have been canceled. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said residents can instead spend time with family and friends at home.

[Read more…]

No injuries reported in house fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Outer Drive Fire 3 Feb 21 2020
No injuries were reported in a fire that destroyed a home on Outer Drive early Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 8:35 a.m. Feb. 24.

No injuries were reported in a fire that destroyed a home on Outer Drive near Ogden Lane early Friday.

The cause of the fire, reported at about 2:19 a.m. Friday, is under investigation.

“The first arriving unit was on scene within minutes and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the residence,” the City of Oak Ridge said. “The resident was not home at the time of the fire.”

Outer Drive was closed at Ogden Lane on Friday morning as the Oak Ridge Fire Department watched for hot spots and continued to spray water on the charred home, which appeared to have a second story that had collapsed. The road re-opened shortly after 3 p.m. Friday.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge firefighter injured in fire on Artesia Dr.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge firefighter was injured fighting a house fire on Artesia Drive early Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (Photo by Oak Ridge Fire Department)

An Oak Ridge firefighter was injured in a fire in a vacant house on Artesia Drive early Friday, February 14.

The fire was reported at about 3:20 a.m. February 14.

When the Oak Ridge Fire Department arrived, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from the windows and eaves of the home, a press release said.

“The fire crew entered through the front door and quickly extinguished the fire in the kitchen area,” the press release said.

[Read more…]

Fire and Crime Prevention Celebration is Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fire and Crime Prevention Parade Map 2019
Oak Ridge Fire and Crime Prevention Parade Map 2019 (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge fire and police departments, in partnership with the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, will hold this year’s Fire and Crime Prevention Celebration on Saturday.

Everyone is invited to participate and support this free event, which combines the police department’s annual National Night Out and the fire department’s Fire Prevention Parade into one big community celebration, a press release said. 

The event will kick off with a parade (weather permitting) at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Fire Department Fire Station 3 on Tuskegee Drive. Following the parade, the celebration in Alvin K. Bissell Park is expected to begin around noon, and it will include food, emergency services equipment displays, a mobile video game theater, bounce houses, safety information booths, and police/fire demonstrations, the press release said.

[Read more…]