• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Briceville Fire Department celebrates new station

Posted at 5:53 pm September 25, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Briceville residents turned out Tuesday evening, Sept. 19, 2023, at Briceville Volunteer Fire Department’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new fire station, located at 1916 Briceville Highway. (Photo credit: Christopher Brewster Photography)

The Briceville Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its new fire station with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The ceremony included local residents and federal, state, and county officials, a press release said.

The path to building the new fire station started years ago, the press release said. In 2019, officials with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a grant to the Briceville VFD for $80,700 and a loan of $74,200, along with a county match of $30,000 to “make the dream of a new station a reality.”

But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the project hit a number of snags, the press release said. Market disruptions affected bidders; supply chain issues created cost increases and forced reworking of the project; and there was a need to close a funding gap as prices increased.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Briceville, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Briceville VFD, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Dan Beasley, Jamie Brewster, Kirk Morris, United States Department of Agriculture, USDA

Fire destroys Briceville house

Posted at 12:58 pm January 9, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire destroyed a home on Andy’s Ridge Road between Briceville and Rocky Top on Friday evening, authorities said.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the call at about 6:51 p.m. Friday.

When Deputy Gregory Hoyt Stanley arrived, he found the house fully engulfed in flames, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report. The Briceville Volunteer Fire Department was already there trying to extinguish the blaze.

The resident of the home told deputies that he had been across the street at his mother’s house for a few minutes when he realized that his house was on fire, according to the incident report. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Briceville, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andy's Ridge Road, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, fire, Gregory Hoyt Stanley, space heater

Two fires under investigation in Anderson County

Posted at 11:12 am November 29, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Two fires last week in Anderson County are under investigation.

Just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the scene of a house fire on Lower Briceville Road. Deputy Josh Bunch arrived on the scene and spoke with the man who had called 911, who told them he had been arriving home from work at around 4:45 a.m. when he heard what he called an “explosion” and saw the house at 412 Lower Briceville Road on fire.

A neighbor told Deputy Bunch that he had seen the flames but had not heard any explosion before the fire. That neighbor’s home did suffer damage to its siding from the heato of the blaze.

The Clinton Utilities Board told deputies that the electricity to that home had been disconnected about a week before the fire. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Denver Waddell, fire, Henson Lane, Josh Bunch, Lower Briceville Road

Oak Ridge donates fire engine to Briceville

Posted at 9:32 pm November 22, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department on Nov. 6, 2017, as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department on Nov. 6, 2017, as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

This story and photos are from the City of Oak Ridge newsletter in November 2017.

The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department earlier this month as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck.

Oak Ridge Fire Department’s new engine was purchased using a stipend from Anderson County as part of a mutual aid program.

ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley and some of his firefighters walked Briceville VFD Chief Jamie Brewster through important details about the truck before they turned it over to the new owner. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Briceville, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, City of Oak Ridge, Darryl Kerley, fire engine, Jamie Brewster, Mark Watson, mutual aid, Oak Ridge Fire Department

WYSH: Two weekend fires deemed suspicious

Posted at 11:54 am May 30, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Two weekend fires in Anderson County are being investigated as suspicious.

The first occurred late Sunday night at a mobile home on Hillvale Road. Deputies reported that the trailer was engulfed in flames upon their arrival at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Crews from the Claxton and Andersonville Volunteer Fire Departments arrived and doused the flames, after which the on-scene commander told Deputy Matthew Landis that he suspected the cause of the fire was arson.

Neighbors told deputies that the property owner had passed away several years ago and they did not know who owns it now. Neighbors said that they had seen a woman and two men at the house earlier in the evening, and said they suspected that the trailer was being used as a meth lab.

With the cause of the fire deemed suspicious, the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Claxton, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, Andy's Ridge Road, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Claxton, fire, Hillvale Road, Matthew Landis

Dryer fire injures none, Briceville fire under investigation

Posted at 9:44 am July 30, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sulphur Springs Road Fire

A Sunday morning fire on Sulphur Springs Road in Anderson County injured no one but caused significant damage to the roof and laundry room of a home, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

ANDERSON COUNTY—A Sunday morning fire on Sulphur Springs Road injured no one but caused significant damage to the roof and laundry room of the home.

The house was fully engulfed in flames when Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived on the scene shortly after 10 a.m., and the blaze was extinguished by crews from the Marlow and Medford volunteer fire departments.

Homeowner Buster Phillips told authorities that he had heard a loud pop come from the laundry room. When he went to investigate, Phillips said, he saw a large fire behind the dryer. He and the other occupant of the house made it out safely.

It was apparently the home of Office on Aging Executive Director Cherie Phillips. WYSH reported on Wednesday that Cherie Phillips lost her home to a fire on Sunday morning, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Briceville, Front Page News, Marlow, Medford, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andy's Ridge Road, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Buster Phillips, Carl Sharp Jr., Cherie Phillips, fire, Marlow, Medford Volunteer Fire Department, Office on Aging, Sulphur Springs Road

Dog killed in Briceville fire

Posted at 12:23 pm March 31, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A dog was killed in a house fire on Friday afternoon in Briceville.

The fire at the home on Duncan Road was reported at around 3 p.m. Friday, and it was put out by crews from the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department.

The homeowner, Eric Harris, was the only human at home at the time of the fire, and he was able to get out safely. However, a dog was not able to make it out and died in the blaze.

Harris said that he had heard a loud sound outside his window and had looked out to find his front porch on fire. His wife told firefighters that they typically hung heat lamps on and underneath the porch for their outside dogs in cold weather, and firefighters, in turn, told deputies that the fire appeared to have started in that area.

Filed Under: Briceville, Front Page News, Police and Fire Tagged With: Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Duncan Road, Eric Harris, fire

Sheriff’s Department investigates fire that destroyed empty Briceville home

Posted at 2:20 pm November 24, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Saturday night fire that destroyed an empty house in Briceville that had been the target of thieves, authorities said.

The fire at 230 Brown Flats Lane was reported at about 11:36 p.m. Saturday.

John L. Brown, the victim, who lives at a separate address on Brown Flats Lane, said the empty house was his parents’ old home, and there have recently been several thefts there, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Joshua A. Humphrey said in an incident report. In one of those thefts, someone stole all the copper, and there was no electricity at the home, Brown told Humphrey. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, arson, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Brown Flats Lane, fire, James Wilson, John L. Brown, John Tyler Brown, Joshua A. Humphrey

Reminder: National Night Out today features food, family-friendly activities

Posted at 1:41 pm October 11, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bucket Ride

The National Night Out celebration on Saturday, October 11, will feature bucket rides on an Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket truck. (Submitted photo)

 

This is a reminder: The National Night Out celebration at A.K. Bissell Park today will feature free food, family-friendly activities for children and adults, and crime prevention presentations and information.

The National Night Out is from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The community is invited.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2014 National Night Out celebration, a crime prevention program promoted by National Association of Town Watch. This year marks the 31st anniversary of this community-police partnership, a press release said.

Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, the Mobile Meth Lab exhibit, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, drug abuse prevention information, Doug LaVerne on steel drums, music, and games. Child fingerprinting and bike registration will be offered. In case of rain, the celebration will move into the Civic Center. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, Brandan Sharp, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Citizens of the Police Academy, crime prevention, Danny Whitson, drug abuse prevention, Emilee Smith, family friendly activities, food, games, Junior Police Academy, K-9 demonstrations, mobile meth lab, music, National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program

Two buildings destroyed by fires in Briceville

Posted at 1:18 pm October 14, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Two buildings were destroyed by fires on Vowell Road in Briceville early Saturday morning. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the scene of the fire shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, and when they arrived, they reported that a house later determined to be vacant and an outbuilding were fully engulfed by flames.

Crews from the Briceville and Medford Volunteer Fire Departments extinguished both blazes, but both structures were destroyed. The cause of the fires is unknown.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, fire, Medford Volunteer Fire Department, Vowell Road

Anderson County fire probed as arson

Posted at 2:13 pm August 15, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A fire that destroyed a vacant home on Back Vowell Road early Wednesday morning is being investigated as arson.

The fire was reported at around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday and extinguished by the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department. A neighbor told an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy the house had been foreclosed upon and had been vacant for about two years. Investigators reported that the house had an electric meter, but that the fire started at the other end of the building. The cause of Wednesday’s fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, arson, Back Vowell Road, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, fire

TDOT to spend $1.2 million to make Highway 116 safer

Posted at 12:11 pm February 27, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will spend more than $1.2 million to make safety improvements on Highway 116, also known as New River Highway, in Anderson County’s Briceville community.

After a string of accidents, including some fatalities, on the rural road, local officials began trying to find ways to prevent them in the future and those efforts paid off last August when a team of TDOT officials joined Anderson County commissioners Tim Isbel and Zach Bates, members of the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, and deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department on a tour of the 11-mile stretch of road from Frost Bottom to the Campbell County line.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: accidents, Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, fatalities, Highway 116, New River Highway, Road Safety Audit Review, safety improvements, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tim Isbel, Zach Bates

Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today