Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Archives

Rope rescue used to remove injured Jeep driver from steep hill

Posted at 2:54 pm August 14, 2018
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A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge at about 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill in east Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.

Oak Ridge 911 dispatchers received a call at about 7 p.m. Sunday that a 4×4 that had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road. The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services responded. When crews arrived, they found a Jeep that was occupied by two adults and two dogs about 50 feet down a steep grade, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Movie screening, discussion to raise awareness of opioid epidemic

Posted at 10:02 am February 15, 2018
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A movie screening and discussion on Tuesday will help raise awareness of the opioid epidemic in the community, a press release said.

The documentary “Chasing the Dragon” will be shown starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, in the Clinton Middle School auditorium. The screening and discussion are scheduled until 8 p.m. Parents, teachers, schools administrators, students, and other interested community members are invited to attend, the press release said. Students in grades 7-12 may attend with an adult.

The press release said there were 256 drug-related death cases in Knox and Anderson counties in 2016, according to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. And the number continues to increase, the press release said.

“In an effort to combat the growing epidemic of prescription drug and heroin abuse, ASAP of Anderson, in cooperation with Anderson County EMS and in coordination with community partners in Anderson County, are hosting a screening of ‘Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,’” the release said. “The FBI and DEA have released this documentary aimed at educating students, young adults, parents, and other community members about the dangers of dependence and addiction.” [Read more…]

Three women taken to hospital after rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive

Posted at 1:18 pm November 13, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Three women were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive at Rolling Links Boulevard on Sunday evening, Nov. 12, 2017. Above, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kenny Prickett investigates the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Three women were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The crash of the minivan was reported at about 6:35 p.m. Sunday at Rolling Links Boulevard in east Oak Ridge.

The vehicle was going south on Melton Lake Drive when it left the right side of the road, hit a boulder, continued traveling south, and landed on its left side, said Oak Ridge Police Department Lieutenant Matt Tedford.

After the crash, the three women were trapped inside the van, and they had to be helped out, Tedford said. Emergency crews cut off the top of the van. [Read more…]

Resident escapes when fire destroys outbuilding, damages home

Posted at 1:11 pm October 2, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The resident escaped when an outbuilding and part of a home burned on Old Edgemoor Lane in Claxton on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A resident escaped when an outbuilding and part of a home burned on Old Edgemoor Lane in Claxton on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

CLAXTON—A resident escaped when a fire destroyed a storage building and damaged a home on Old Edgemoor Lane in Claxton late Sunday morning.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department reported that the fire call came in to the 911 center a little before 11:30 a.m. Sunday. When deputies arrived, they found the storage building engulfed in flames, along with the portion of the home closest to the outbuilding, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Deputies reported that the homeowner, Kathrine Lively, told them she had just finished using her lawn mower and put it back in the shed when she went inside to take a shower. A few minutes later, she heard someone at her door yelling at her that she needed to come outside. [Read more…]

Marlow man flown to hospital after falling off ladder

Posted at 4:46 pm July 4, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lifestar-Marlow-Anderson-County-July-4-2016-IV

A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after falling eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Phillip Freels Lane on Monday morning, July 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

MARLOW—A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after he fell eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Monday, authorities said.

The fall was reported at about 10 a.m. Monday on Phillip Freels Lane, said Stephanie Fox, assistant chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department responded to the fall and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department helped set up a landing zone at Old Batley Road and Oliver Springs Highway for a University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter. [Read more…]

Fires destroy two homes Friday, one in Oliver Springs, other on Dutch Valley Road

Posted at 1:07 pm June 26, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire destroyed a home on Hen Valley Road in Oliver Springs late Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo by Tom Scott)

OLIVER SPRINGS—Fires destroyed two homes on Friday, one in Oliver Springs and the other on Dutch Valley Road.

The first fire was reported at about 12:55 a.m. Friday at 1351 Dutch Valley Road in Anderson County.

The large, one-story, brick veneer home was completely on fire when the first units arrived from the nearby Marlow Fire Department Station 2 (located at the old Donovan School), fire photographer Tom Scott said. The Marlow Fire department responded with two engines and two tankers.

In response to mutual aid requests, the Oliver Springs Fire Department sent an engine and a rescue truck, and the Blair Fire Department sent an engine.

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services had a medic unit standing by at the scene. The fire units were on the scene until about 5 a.m. Friday, Scott said. The house was totally destroyed. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS director gives ‘State of EMS’ address

Posted at 11:03 am June 17, 2016
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Information from WYSH Radio

On Wednesday night, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Director Nathan Sweet delivered a “State of the EMS” address to county commissioners and members of the public.

The county EMS became an individual entity not funded by the county six years ago, choosing instead to support itself through fees. When the EMS became a stand-alone entity, the county ignored a recommendation from the County Technical Advisory Service—or CTAS—and provided only $215,000 in start-up money rather than the $1.1 million recommended by CTAS. Despite that early limitation, the department was able to support itself…until last year.

In 2015, the County Commission voted to contribute $600,000 to fund the EMS, which found itself hampered by delays in reimbursement from Medicare and serious problems with the third-party billing company used by the EMS. [Read more…]

‘State of EMS’ briefing for county commissioners on June 15

Posted at 6:05 pm May 30, 2016
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Anderson County Emergency Medical Services will host a “State of EMS” briefing for county commissioners on June 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

This briefing will cover the current operations of Anderson County EMS, potential upcoming changes in EMS nationally, and current reimbursement issues.

The briefing, which is open to the general public, will be held at EMS headquarters, 314 Public Safety Lane in Clinton.

Knoxville man dies in motorcycle crash on Old Emory in Claxton

Posted at 7:16 pm March 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Old-Emory-Road-Motorcycle-Crash-March-19-2016

A Knoxville man died after he lost control of his motorcycle, struck a guardrail, and landed down an embankment on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the crash, which was reported at the intersection with Walnut Valley Road on Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

CLAXTON—A Knoxville man died after he lost control of a motorcycle, struck a guardrail, and landed down an embankment on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 2:21 p.m. Saturday at the intersection with Walnut Valley Road, just north of Bull Run Fossil Plant.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said Peter Bolen, 52, was driving south on a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle when he lost control going around a curve and hit the guardrail. The motorcycle crossed the road and stopped in a ditch on the opposite side of the road. [Read more…]

THP investigating motorcycle crash on Old Emory Road in Claxton

Posted at 3:55 pm March 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a motorcycle crash that was reported on Old Emory Road on Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 7:22 p.m.

CLAXTON—The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a motorcycle crash reported on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2:21 p.m. Saturday on Old Emory Road at Walnut Valley Road, just north of the Bull Run Fossil Plant.

Old Emory Road is closed at Walnut Valley Road while the THP investigates.

Besides the THP, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Claxton Fire Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services also responded.

See newer story here.

No injuries reported, but cat dies in Norris fire that might have started at laptop

Posted at 10:47 am February 26, 2016
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No injuries were reported but a cat died after a kitchen fire in a Norris home last Friday, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Norris Fire Department/Chief Danny Humphrey)

NORRIS—No injuries were reported but a cat died after a kitchen fire in a Norris home last Friday, authorities said. The cause of the fire isn’t known, but authorities said it might have started at a laptop in the kitchen.

The fire was reported at 169 Garden Road at 9:48 a.m. Friday, February 19.

Norris Fire Department firefighters saw heavy smoke when they arrived, according to an incident report. The fire was in the kitchen and had not spread to other areas of the home, the report said. Firefighters were able to extinguish it. [Read more…]

Swift rescue by nephew saves life of Clinch River fisherman

Posted at 6:35 pm February 14, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 8:50 p.m.

NORRIS—A fisherman who fell overboard on the Clinch River below Norris Dam on Sunday afternoon has his nephew to thank for quick action that undoubtedly saved his life, officials said.

Cecil Branscom, 70, of Dublin, Virginia, and his nephew Scott Branscom, 48, of Knoxville, launched their boat at Peach Orchard Access Area on the Clinch River on Sunday afternoon and headed upstream toward Norris Dam. When they reached the weir dam at around 2 p.m., they prepared to begin fishing when the boat’s engine hit a rock in the water, sending Cecil overboard from the front of the vessel into 48-degree water.

Scott Branscom managed to get his uncle back into the boat. Cecil Branscom was wearing several layers of clothing that was saturated from the frigid water, and he was not wearing a life jacket, the press release said. [Read more…]