Oak Ridge Today

Firefighters use back burns to help contain Elza Gate fire

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Firefighters used back burns, controlled fires that eliminate fuel, to help contain a large fire that burned grass and brush near the railroad tracks at Elza Drive in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. This view is looking south toward Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River from near Elza Drive. There is a Y intersection in the train tracks in the area of the black smoke. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

Firefighters used back burns, controlled fires that eliminate fuel, to help contain a large fire that burned grass and brush near the railroad tracks at Elza Drive in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019. This view is looking south toward Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River from near Elza Drive. There is a Y intersection in the train tracks in the area of the black smoke. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

 

Firefighters used back burns, controlled fires that eliminate fuel, to help contain a large fire that burned grass and brush near the railroad tracks at Elza Drive in east Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon.

The large grass fire was reported on the steep embankment along the railroad tracks east of Elza Gate Park at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. The fire sent up a large plume of black and gray smoke that was visible for miles.

“Flames were moving quickly, fueled by strong winds and excess brush in the area,” the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

Crews started attacking the fire from several locations, the ORFD said. When flames spread to the railroad bridge over Elza Drive, firefighters were able to save it by walking out onto the bridge and extinguishing the flames. [Read more…]

Four families displaced by apartment fire

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Four families were displaced by a fire in an apartment on Waddell Circle on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

Four families were displaced by a fire in an apartment on Waddell Circle on Friday afternoon, March 22, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

 

Four families were displaced by a fire in an apartment on Waddell Circle on Friday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The fire was reported at about 2:10 p.m. Friday, March 22, in the 200 block of Waddell Circle. Firefighters reported heavy smoke and fire coming from one of the second-floor apartments when they arrived.

The flames were quickly extinguished, and crews confirmed that all occupants made it out of the building safely, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. The occupants told first responders they heard a “whooshing” sound while watching television. When they opened the back door, they found the deck on fire. [Read more…]

Updated: Fire crews battle brush fire near railroad tracks at Elza Gate

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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)

 

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. [Read more…]

ORFD helped fight fire in Oliver Springs

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department and other departments helped Oliver Springs fight this fire on West Tri County Boulevard early Wednesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Tom Scott)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and other departments helped Oliver Springs fight this fire on West Tri County Boulevard early Wednesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to help fight a fire in Oliver Springs last week.

The fire was reported at about 1 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, in a building in the 900 block of West Tri County Boulevard, said fire photographer Tom Scott.

The initial response was by the Oliver Springs Fire Department, followed by the Marlow, Blair, and Oak Ridge fire departments on a mutual aid request, Scott said. [Read more…]

Man died after removing wife from fire, trying to rescue her special needs sister

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Law enforcement officials believe that a 64-year-old man removed his wife from a mobile home fire in Anderson County on Wednesday evening and died trying to rescue his special needs sister-in-law, who also died in the fire.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The mobile home was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, and victims were trapped in the home, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

The woman who was removed is Marianne Gremillion, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. She was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after the Wednesday evening fire. [Read more…]

Two people die in fire, one person in critical care

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Two people died in a fire in Anderson County Wednesday evening, and one person is in a critical care unit, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The house was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

One person was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and is in critical care there, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. [Read more…]

No injuries reported, dog rescued in apartment fire

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No injuries were reported and a dog was rescued from a fire in an apartment building on Florida Avenue in late January, firefighters said. (Photo via City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

No injuries were reported and a dog was rescued from a fire in an apartment building on Florida Avenue in late January, firefighters said. (Photo via City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

 

No injuries were reported and a dog was rescued from a fire in an apartment building on Florida Avenue in late January, firefighters said.

The fire in a four-unit apartment building was reported at about 9:43 p.m. Thursday, January 31, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The first firefighting unit was at the building within minutes and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the building, the ORFD said. [Read more…]

Pair of unrelated fires destroy houses

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Information from WYSH Radio

No one was injured, but a house on Patt Lane in Claxton was said to be a total loss after a fire on Saturday night.

An Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to the scene and reported that the entire roof of the home was engulfed by flames and that the fire was rapidly spreading to the second floor of the structure. He also discovered the homeowner attempting to fight the fire with a water hose, and the tenant—the owner’s son—removing personal items from the burning home. Deputy Tyler Culver reported that he had to remove the younger man from the house twice as he tried to save items even as the fire spread.

Despite the best efforts of firefighters from the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department and Rural Metro, all that was left standing of the home was a pair of brick chimneys. Firefighters said that the blaze appeared to have begun in the attic, and the tenant told deputies that neither fireplace was in use at the time of the fire, and that due to ongoing renovations, he had been using electric and propane heaters as his primary heat sources. Firefighters found no traces of any accelerant or any other evidence of arson, but the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

The homeowner did not have insurance on the property. [Read more…]

Updated: One person dies in mobile home fire

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Note: This story was updated at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 26.

Information from WYSH Radio

The Clinton Fire Department said one person died in a Monday evening fire at a home in Lakefront Mobile Home Park.

The fire was reported shortly after 7:15 p.m., and crews remained at the home until about 11 p.m.

The fire killed Harold Bray, 64. [Read more…]

CFD: House a ‘complete loss’ after early morning fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

An early Thursday morning fire destroyed a home on Sunset Lane near its intersection with Douglas Lane, according to the Clinton Fire Department.

The blaze was reported shortly before 2 a.m., and firefighters remained on the scene for about four hours. Fire Chief Archie Brummitt described the structure as a “complete loss.” Brummitt also said that the homeowner was treated at the scene for possible smoke inhalation, but did not require a trip to the hospital. [Read more…]

Three small brush fires reported in Briceville

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department was called to a section of New River Highway in Briceville on Friday night after someone reported small brush fires along the side of the road.

A responding deputy located three small brush fires in the 6700 block of New River Highway, which he described as “moving uphill at a slow pace.” No structures, power poles, or any other property were threatened by the fires, which were extinguished by the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department. [Read more…]

Mobile home fire under investigation

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Information from WYSH Radio

No people were injured, but a dog died in a Friday afternoon mobile home fire in Claxton.

The fire at the home on Dennis Lane was reported shortly before 5 p.m. Friday. When Claxton Volunteer Fire Department firefighters arrived, they reported that flames had engulfed about half of the structure.

Firefighters from not only Claxton, but also the Andersonville, Marlow, and Medford Volunteer Fire Departments—as well as crews from the Norris, Rocky Top, and Rural Metro fire departments—battled the blaze, which required additional water to be brought to the scene after the first tanker went dry. [Read more…]