Oak Ridge Today

Eric Rackard is new Oak Ridge fire marshal

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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…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department recognized as organization of year at fire instructors conference

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ORFD Jody Durham and ISFSI Steve Pegram

Oak Ridge Fire Department Assistant Chief Jody Durham, left, accepts an Organization of the Year award on behalf of the ORFD from International Society of Fire Service Instructors President Steve Pegram, at the 2016 ISFSI Conference. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department was recently presented with the Organization of the Year Award by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors at the 2016 Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson announced the award on Monday.

The award was presented in recognition of the significant contributions the Oak Ridge Fire Department made as a co-host of the 2015 International Conference last year, a press release said. There were more than 300 fire instructors from several different nations that attended the conference in East Tennessee last October. The Oak Ridge Fire Department provided equipment, staff, and logistical coordination for the conference.

That was the first time the ISFSI International Conference had been hosted in Tennessee, but after the success of last year’s conference the ISFSI is considering returning to Tennessee in the upcoming years, the press release said.

This press release was submitted by the City of Oak Ridge.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oak Ridge Fire Department announces promotions, new firefighters

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Jody Durham

Jody Durham

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department recently held a ceremony to promote three officers and to introduce four new firefighters and their families to the organization. Congratulations to these recently promoted officers and new firefighters.

Jody Durham was promoted from battalion chief to assistant chief of operations. He has been with Oak Ridge Fire Department for more than 10 years. Durham has experience as a U.S. Department of Energy firefighter and as a paramedic with Morgan County Ambulance Service.

Eric Rackard

Eric Rackard

Eric Rackard was promoted from captain to battalion chief and is assigned as the A-Shift commander. He has been with Oak Ridge Fire Department for eight years, and he has served as a firefighter/engineer and paramedic.

Rackard is an Air Force veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. [Read more…]

ORHS evacuated after chemistry experiment sets off smoke detectors

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Oak Ridge High School Chem Lab Evacuation

Oak Ridge High School students were briefly evacuated Tuesday morning after a chemistry lab experiment in LC212 set off smoke detectors. The students were let back in about 20 minutes after the 10:30 a.m. call.

 

Students at Oak Ridge High School were briefly evacuated Tuesday morning after a chemistry experiment set off smoke detectors, authorities said.

A small amount of zinc chloride and water created water vapor that set off the smoke detectors, which then shut chemistry lab hoods, Oak Ridge firefighters said. The Oak Ridge Fire Department manually opened the vents in the room (LC212) until the smoke detector system reset. Firefighters checked the air, making sure it was safe to breathe, Battalion Chief Jody Durham said.

There was no fire, no damage, and no injuries, firefighters said.

“No student was ever in any real danger,” Durham said.

[Read more…]