Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Please contribute to help firefighters, first responders

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To the Editor:

We’ve all been praying for rain, perhaps several times a day. This drought has been affecting our area for over four months now.

Because it’s been so dry, there’s been a ban on fires. You’ve heard the reports: No open fires. No fire pits or campfires. No grilling whether charcoal or gas. No throwing down a cigarette butt. No burning of brush or rubbish.

If you were going to ask, the answer would be a simple “NO!”

As a result, someone has, or did because they figured it was OK. Whether it was intentional or not. It happened. Fires popped up here and there. On the mountain side, at the campground, someone’s backyard, or even a spark from an engine. [Read more…]

No one injured, but medical oxygen tanks explode in Dutch Valley Road fire

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Dutch-Valley-Road-Fire-Alcorn-Leinart-April-10-2016

Firefighters from Oliver Springs, Marlow, and Medford responded to a fire on Dutch Valley Road on Sunday, April 10, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

No one was injured, but oxygen tanks that appeared to be medical exploded in a fire on Dutch Valley Road on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 1:01 p.m. Sunday at 2757 Dutch Valley Road. No one was inside the home at the time of the fire, said Wes Horton, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department captain.

The home was destroyed. The cause wasn’t immediately known, Horton said.

Besides Marlow, firefighters also responded from Oliver Springs and Medford. There were a total of a dozen firefighters and four fire trucks. Anderson County EMS was also on standby.

The fire was contained in about 30 minutes. [Read more…]

No one injured, no homes damaged in brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton

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Foley-Hill-Fire-Albert-Look-March-17-2016

No one was injured and no homes were damaged during a brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton on Thursday, March 17, 2016. Above, resident Albert Look, who lives on Jarnigan Chapel Road, fights the fire with a garden hose until the Medford Fire Department arrives. (Photo by Caren Look)

 

CLINTON—No one was injured and no homes were damaged during a brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton on Thursday.

The fire was 1.5 acres, and it was started by an “escaped debris fire,” the Tennessee Division of Forestry said. A warning was issued, officials said.

Residents who live off Jarnigan Chapel Road on the top of the hill said it started at the bottom of the hill, and the wind blew it up through the woods.

“It was horrifying,” said J.T. Taylor, who lives near the top of the hill. He said flames about 10 feet high came within 20 feet of his home. [Read more…]

Family displaced, but no one injured in Rocky Top fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

A house fire displaced a Rocky Top area family on Wednesday night, but no one was injured, authorities said.

Firefighters from the Rocky Top and Medford fire departments responded to the fire, which was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday in Cumberland View Estates in Rocky Top.

Anderson County Sheriff”s Department deputies arrived on the scene as well and were told by the resident, Jennifer Hutchins, that she was getting ready to take a shower when she heard a popping noise from the kitchen. When she went to investigate, she saw the microwave and the oven on fire. Hutchins immediately grabbed her two children and got out of the house, authorities said. [Read more…]

Fires destroy vacant Marlow home, Medford storage building

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Information from WYSH Radio

A vacant home in the Marlow community was destroyed by a fire Monday afternoon.

The property owner told Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies and firefighters that the house at 143 Talley Lane had been vacant for eight years after a previous fire destroyed much of the structure. She said her son had been cleaning the property the previous day and had started a burn pile about 50 feet from the home to get rid of trash and wood from inside the building. [Read more…]

Fire displaces family on East Wolf Valley Road

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Information from WYSH Radio

A family was displaced after a fire at a mobile home Saturday night. The fire was reported just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday at 1042 East Wolf Valley Road, and authorities reported that no one was home at the time.

A neighbor who shares a driveway with the home owned by Jennifer Neal saw flames and called 911, and Neal returned home after being notified of the blaze. She told investigators and firefighters that she had left at around 6 p.m. and that her children had not been there all day. Neal said she could not think of anything that could have started the fire. [Read more…]

EPA: Oak Ridge is a Green Power Community of the Year

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ORNL Bethel Valley Solar Array

Construction was completed in 2008 on a 288-foot-long, 51.25 kilowatt solar system (second-largest in Tennessee) that will supply power to the office building that houses researchers associated with Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s buildings technology programs. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Oak Ridge has been recognized as a Green Power Community of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Oak Ridge is one of only two cities to receive the award. The other is Medford, Oregon.

Oak Ridge is one of 19 Green Power Partners and four suppliers from across the country receiving Green Leadership Awards given each year by the EPA. Awardees are recognized for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable energy market and reducing greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change, a press release said.

The 2014 Green Power Leadership Awards will be presented on Wednesday, December 3, at the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, California. [Read more…]

Fire causes heavy damage to Anderson County home, RV, trailer

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Cedar Hills Drive Fire

A Wednesday morning fire on Cedar Hills Drive in Anderson County heavily damaged a home, RV, and camping trailer.

The fire was reported at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at 210 Cedar Hills Drive. It apparently started in the attic, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department report. The cause was not known, but it was not believed to be an arson, the report said.

A witness who lives nearby reported seeing flames coming out of the attic. [Read more…]

Claxton fire burns through roof at home behind Bread Box

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Dogwood Road Fire

Firefighters battle a blaze that spread into the attic and burned through a roof at a home on South Dogwood Road in Claxton. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A Monday evening fire burned through the roof of a home behind the Bread Box convenience store on Edgemoor Road in Claxton.

The fire at 110 S. Dogwood Road was reported at about 6:45 p.m. Monday, photographer Tom Scott said. It was originally reported as a kitchen fire, but the fire extended into the attic and burned through the roof, causing extensive damage.

Before firefighters arrived, a neighbor kicked open a door after hearing what sounded like a cry for help and freed a trapped cat, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton. No injuries were reported.

The initial response was by the Claxton Fire Department. In one of the larger Anderson County mutual aid operations in recent years, the Rural Metro, Andersonville, Marlow, Medford, and Briceville fire departments responded, and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Scott said. The American Red Cross also responded to help the residents. [Read more…]

Arson suspected in AC fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

Firefighters from the Andersonville and Medford Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a fire this morning that destroyed a mobile home on Stephens Lane.

No injuries were reported, but the fire is being investigated as a case of arson after authorities discovered what were described as suspicious items at the scene.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

WYSH: Medford mobile home catches fire

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Information from WYSH Radio in Clinton

A mobile home in Medford was damaged by a fire early Sunday morning.

The mobile home on Beets Valley Road had been unoccupied for at least three years, according to a report filed by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and had no power running to it.

[Read more…]