Oak Ridge Fire Department Archives

Police investigate crash involving riding mower on South Illinois

Posted at 4:00 pm September 13, 2018
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The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a pickup truck and a riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department is investigating a crash that appeared to involve a pickup truck and riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue on Thursday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2 p.m. Thursday in the northbound lanes of South Illinois, coming into the city just south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road. [Read more…]

ORFD to host ‘Stop the Bleed’ class on Sept. 18

Posted at 2:32 am September 10, 2018
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The Oak Ridge Fire Department will host a “Stop the Bleed” course on Tuesday, September 18, at 6 p.m. Participation is limited to 20 people, and there is no cost involved in taking the course.

Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call-to-action, a press release said. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives, the press release said.

“No matter how quickly emergency crews are able to respond, bystanders will always be first on the scene,” the press release said. “An injured person can die from blood loss within minutes, so working quickly to stop the bleeding is imperative. By learning what simple actions to take following a traumatic injury, you may be able to save a life.”

Stop the Bleed classes are taught at Oak Ridge Fire Department Station 3, which is located at 333 Tuskegee Drive in Oak Ridge. To register for one of the free courses, call (865) 425-3520 or send an email to [email protected].

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at assisted living facility

Posted at 9:23 am August 30, 2018
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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Submitted

On Friday, August 24, at about 12:38 a.m., the Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to a fire alarm caused by water flow from sprinklers at NHC Healthcare on Laboratory Road.

The first unit on scene reported that an employee saw fire coming from a clothes dryer and then saw water flow in the dryer area. The engine company controlled the water from the sprinkler head, closed gas, and disconnected power from all three dryers. No injuries were reported, and no fire damage was noted in or around the dryer. Fire department personnel also mitigated the water from the sprinkler head activation. The facility was back to normal operation within a few hours.

This was the second incident worked by the Oak Ridge Fire Department in just 24 hours that involved the successful use of a life-saving device. [Read more…]

Smoke alarm likely saves life in East Drive house fire

Posted at 11:11 am August 24, 2018
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A smoke alarm saved a life in a fire at a home on East Drive early Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo by Tom Scott/ORFD Photographer)

A smoke alarm saved a life in a fire at a home on East Drive early Thursday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The fire was reported at the home at about 1:52 a.m. Thursday. The first Fire Department unit was at the house within minutes and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the home.

The resident was outside when fire crews arrived, the ORFD said. He said a smoke alarm woke him up.

The home received extensive damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, the ORFD said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department said it would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a smoke alarm in their home. [Read more…]

Save the Date: Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration 2018

Posted at 8:24 pm August 20, 2018
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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program are teaming up to host a Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration this year. The date is set for Saturday, October 6.

Everyone is invited to participate and support this free event, which combines the police department’s annual National Night Out and the fire department’s Fire Prevention Parade into one big community celebration, a press release said. Goals of the Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration include: [Read more…]

Rope rescue used to remove injured Jeep driver from steep hill

Posted at 2:54 pm August 14, 2018
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A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge at about 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill in east Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.

Oak Ridge 911 dispatchers received a call at about 7 p.m. Sunday that a 4×4 that had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road. The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services responded. When crews arrived, they found a Jeep that was occupied by two adults and two dogs about 50 feet down a steep grade, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Motorcyclist airlifted to UT after crashing into power pole

Posted at 9:54 am August 8, 2018
By John Huotari 3 Comments

A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018. authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 2:50 p.m.

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash, which was a few blocks east of North Illinois Avenue in an area with a curve and a hill, was reported at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday. The motorcycle was heading west when it left the roadway and struck a utility pole, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department.

After the crash, the male motorcyclist was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, said Eric Rackard, battalion chief for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Home damaged by fire Monday, cause under investigation

Posted at 9:33 pm August 7, 2018
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A fire damaged a home on Gorgas Lane in north Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Aug. 6, 2018. No injuries were reported. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A fire damaged a home in north Oak Ridge on Monday evening. No injuries were reported.

The house fire was reported at about 8:22 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Gorgas Lane.

When firefighters arrived, they could see flames coming from the rear of the home and the attic, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said in a press release. Firefighters from Engine 2 laid a supply line from the fire hydrant and used two hand lines to quickly extinguish the fire, along with crews from Engines 1 and 3, Tower 10, and Rescue 30, the press release said. [Read more…]

Clinton Fire Department gets new ladder truck on Friday

Posted at 8:05 pm July 18, 2018
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Clinton Fire Department Tower Truck (Picture via WYSH Radio)

Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

The Clinton Fire Department will possess the largest fire truck in Anderson County on Friday.

Officials recently agreed to purchase a new truck with a ladder capable of reaching heights of 110 feet and will take possession of it on Friday, according to Clinton Fire Chief Archie Brummitt and Assistant Chief Jeff Little.

The new apparatus is thought to be the largest single purchase in the history of the city at $991,000. The funding came from the city’s capital project fund, as well as a $200,000 donation from Clinton manufacturing company SL Tennessee.

The ladder truck has an expected lifespan of 25-30 years, according to Brummitt, who said the tower truck has been on the department’s wish list for some time. [Read more…]

Free child car seat checkpoint scheduled for July 14

Posted at 7:55 pm July 6, 2018
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There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, July 14, 2018. (File photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are hosting a child passenger seat checkpoint on Saturday, July 14. It’s free and open to the public.

The checkpoint will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Department Station #2, located at 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike (near Home Depot). Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with no need to pre-register, a press release said.

During the event, child car seats will be checked for any manufacturer recalls and examined for proper installation by certified technicians, the press release said. Crews will also distribute educational materials about car seats. [Read more…]

Reminder: Fireworks are Wednesday at A.K. Bissell Park

Posted at 10:51 pm July 2, 2018
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Fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2017. (File photo by D. Ray Smith)

A reminder: The City of Oak Ridge is again sponsoring a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. The display will be held in A.K. Bissell Park on Wednesday, July 4, and is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band, now in its 74th year, will perform prior to the fireworks, a press release said. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone planning to attend is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating, the press release said. A safety zone will be established by the Oak Ridge Fire Department. Please sit only in the designated areas, the press release said. [Read more…]

First Water Safety Day will have demonstrations on life jackets, water rescues

Posted at 5:36 pm June 20, 2018
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A first-ever Water Safety Day in Oak Ridge will feature demonstrations on boating and life jacket safety, open water rescues, lifeguard skills, and more, a press release said.

The Water Safety Day was announced by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool.

Water Safety Day is a partnership between the Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and Oak Ridge Police Department, as well as the Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the press release said. [Read more…]