Oak Ridge Today

Small fire at EMS station goes out when power cut

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County EMS Fire

The Oak Ridge fire and electric departments respond to a small fire in a meter box at the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Station 2 on Raleigh Road. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A small fire at a meter box at the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services station on Raleigh Road went out when the power to the building was cut, authorities said.

The electrical fire occurred at ACEMS Station 2 at about 4:55 p.m. Friday.

Weather had caused a service line to spark, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department assistant fire chief. There was no damage to the building, which once housed the Oak Ridge Fire Department Alarm Office.

[Read more…]

Spring forward, change smoke detector batteries

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

With everyone preparing to move their clocks forward this weekend, the Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to remind everyone to change the battery in their smoke alarms as well.

In the state of Tennessee, 11 lives have been lost in residential structure fires since Feb. 28, so the State Fire Marshal’s Office is also encouraging all Tennesseans to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks Saturday night for daylight savings time.

[Read more…]

Few months after fire, Magic Wok passes city inspections, needs one from county

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Oak Ridge Fire Department at Magic Wok

Damaged by smoke in November, the Magic Wok restaurant, which has been closed for several months, has passed all city inspections but still needs one from the county.

Several months after it was damaged by smoke, the Magic Wok restaurant has passed all city inspections, and the diner now needs an inspection from the Anderson County Health Department, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said Thursday.

The landmark Oak Ridge diner on Tyler Road passed a fire inspection Thursday morning, Waldo said.

The Magic Wok has been closed since  it was damaged by smoke in November after food was left cooking on a stove unattended. Firefighters didn’t see any flames that night, but they found smoke and high temperatures.

[Read more…]

Smoking apparently caused fatal fire Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Decatur Road House Fire

Smoking appears to have caused the fatal house fire that killed one person and a dog on Decatur Road on Monday afternoon, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Smoking appears to have caused the Monday afternoon fire that killed one person and a dog, fire officials said Tuesday.

“We’re not positive yet, but (the cause of the fire) could be smoking in the living room,” Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

Kerley said the victim’s body was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for an autopsy and identification. The victim appeared to be a man, he said.

Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said Tuesday afternoon that the victim died in the fire.

[Read more…]

One person dies in Decatur Road house fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Decatur Road House Fire

One person died in a Monday afternoon fire at a home at the corner of Decatur Road and Delaware Avenue. (Photo by Tom Scott)

One person died in a Monday afternoon house fire on Decatur Road, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said.

Authorities aren’t releasing the name or age of the person, pending notification of relatives. Authorities also wouldn’t say where the person was in the house during the fire.

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments are investigating the cause of the fire, which was concentrated around the home’s back porch and living room and sent thick gray and black smoke billowing skyward.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department puts out car fire on West Outer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Car Fire West Outer Drive

The Oak Ridge Fire Department puts out a car fire on West Outer Drive at Westlook Circle on Wednesday morning. (Photo by Tom Scott)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department put out a car fire on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning.

The 7:04 a.m. fire was in the engine compartment of a 2001 Chevy Impala and could have been caused by a mechanical problem, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge assistant fire chief.

No one was injured in the fire, which was on West Outer Drive near Westlook Circle.

The estimated damage to the vehicle was unknown.

Magic Wok damaged by smoke, could be closed few days

Posted at
By 10 Comments

Oak Ridge Fire Department at Magic Wok

Oak Ridge firefighters check for “hot spots” on the roof after responding to a fire alarm at the Magic Wok restaurant on Tyler Road on Thursday night.

The Magic Wok restaurant could be closed a few days after food was left cooking on a stove unattended Thursday night, causing minor damage to the building, mostly smoke damage, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to a possible fire call at the popular restaurant on Tyler Road at 10:46 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters didn’t see any flames, but they found smoke and high temperatures.

They used water cannons—fire extinguishers filled with water—to cool the restaurant’s interior. They also checked the roof for hot spots, including by cutting a corner of the roof.

Firefighters stayed at the scene for about two hours and ensured the temperature of building materials dropped below 80 degrees and there was no more smoke, a fire report said.

Waldo said 15 firefighters responded, and no one was injured. Damage was estimated at about $7,000 to property and contents.

Waldo said the Magic Wok, which is owned by Betty and Jim Wong, will be closed for minor repairs and general cleanup, and the restaurant will have to be re-inspected by code enforcement officers and health department inspectors before it can re-open.

No one injured in small home fire on Cove Lane

Posted at
By

Cove Lane Fire

Firefighter Gary Williamson, left, and Capt. Jason Benjamin of the Oak Ridge Fire Department respond to a call for help at a Cove Lane home north of Oliver Springs on Wednesday morning. (Photos by Tom Scott)

No one was injured in a small fire in a two-story home on Cove Lane north of Oliver Springs on Wednesday morning, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge assistant fire chief.

Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the fire at about 11 a.m. Wednesday after receiving a call for help, but the Oliver Springs Fire Department had extinguished the flames by the time Oak Ridge firefighters arrived.

The home is in the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department district, and Marlow firefighters responded, as did emergency responders from several other local agencies.

Waldo said no one was home at the time of the fire, which was in the home’s dining room.

Oak Ridge Fire Department at Cove Lane

Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo, left, and Oliver Springs Assistant Chief Justin Bailey, right, meet with Oak Ridge firefighters Andrew Murray, left center, and Steven Hales, right center. Murray and Hales started with the Oak Ridge Fire Department on Monday.

ORFD recommends alarms that detect flaming, smoldering fires

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Fire Department has responded to a recent NBC news report that raised questions about smoke alarms and their effectiveness, including potential delays in notifying homeowners of fires.

In a press release last week, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said there are two types of home smoke alarms available: ionization and photoelectric. The ion type reacts faster to open flaming fires and is usually the least expensive. The photoelectric type reacts faster to smoldering fires, like the ones shown in the NBC report, and is less likely to react to cooking, the release said.

Waldo said there are smoke alarms that contain both ionization and photoelectric technology. The Oak Ridge Fire Department recommends them and installs them as part of its smoke alarm program.

Waldo said smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, with more detectors in each sleeping area and directly outside of each sleeping area. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly to make sure they are operating, and the batteries should be changed every six months.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department promotes escape plans during Fire Prevention Month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will visit all the elementary and middle schools as well as many day cares during the next few weeks to talk to children about home fire escape plans.

It’s part of the department’s activities during national Fire Prevention Month, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said in a press release.

The national fire prevention theme this year is “Have 2 Ways Out.” The release said children will be bringing home information to review with their parents to make sure that they have working smoke alarms, emergency exit plans, two ways out of their homes during a fire, and a safe meeting place.

“It is important to have a home fire escape plan that prepares your family to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm in your home sounds,” the release said. “What if your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? That’s why having two ways out is such a key part of your plan.”

The press release said Tennessee routinely ranks in the Top 5 nationally in deaths from residential fires, and the lack of smoke detectors and home exit plans are contributing factors.

[Read more…]