Oak Ridge Today

Early morning fire damages duplex, possibly caused by cigarette

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Hillside Road Duplex Fire

A Hillside Road duplex was damaged by fire early Thursday morning by a fire that officials believe was caused by smoking.

 

A Hillside Road duplex was damaged by fire early Thursday morning by a fire that officials believe was caused by smoking.

The fire at 4:30 a.m. Thursday at 136 Hillside Road forced the evacuation of a father and son. Neither of the residents were injured, and firefighters were able to rescue a pet cat, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Fire was visible from the rear of the residence when the Oak Ridge Fire Department arrived, the press release said. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading into the adjacent residence.

[Read more…]

Carport fire destroys three cars, involves 50 gallons of gas

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Hampshire Circle Fire

It took firefighters about 40 minutes to control a carport fire that destroyed three cars and involved about 50 gallons of gasoline on Hampshire Circle early Thursday morning.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the fire at 2:44 a.m. Thursday.

“First arriving units reported three cars underneath a carport with heavy fire involvement,” a press release said. “Firefighters worked quickly to attempt to extinguish the fire but were faced with the challenge of approximately 50 gallons of gasoline being involved in the fire via the fuel tanks of the cars.” [Read more…]

Driver escapes car fire on Lafayette Drive

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Lafayette Drive Fire

The driver escaped, and firefighters quickly put out this fire in the front of a Subaru station wagon on Lafayette Drive on Sunday night.

 

Clinton resident Mark Bunch escaped a car fire on Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge on Sunday night.

Bunch said he had just left a shop on Midway Lane about a quarter-mile away when other drivers started flashing their lights at him. Then, he noticed a glow by his left front tire.

Bunch pulled over between Hendrix Drive and Emory Valley Road just before 8 p.m. Sunday. He was able to exit the car on the driver’s side, although he was a little worried about the flames shooting up from the front of the 2007 Subaru station wagon. [Read more…]

Updated: Driver charged with DUI in four-car crash that damaged home

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Robertsville Road Car and House Crash

No one was injured in a crash involving four vehicles and a house on Robertsville Road on Thursday night.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:20 p.m.

The driver of a car that allegedly caused a four-vehicle crash and damaged a home on Robertsville Road has been charged with driving under the influence, authorities said.

Officers located Brandon Kyle Baez, 18, of Oak Ridge, after he walked away from the crash at 184 Robertsville Road and tried to hide in a wooded area, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Ben Higgins said in a warrant.

The crash occurred at about 10:40 p.m. Thursday just east of North Illinois Avenue. An SUV-type vehicle driven by Baez allegedly left the road, drove through the front yard of one home on Robertsville Road, crashed into a Ford four-door sedan parked in the driveway, and pushed it about three or four car lengths into a neighbor’s front yard—and reportedly caused a collision with two cars parked in the neighbor’s driveway (the home of Mike and Judy Coen).

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Oak Ridge, Red Cross, others prepare to provide shelter for those without power

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

The snow may be over for this week, but the coldest days are yet to come. The Oak Ridge Fire Department will coordinate with the local Red Cross office and other organizations to provide shelter for those who lose power.

The National Weather Service has forecast temperatures in the teens to possibly as much as 10 below zero over the next 48 to 72 hours.

“Residents are encouraged to use extreme caution if you must go outside,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. “Dress in layers and minimize your exposure to the cold temperatures. Also, bring your pets inside.”

The Oak Ridge Fire Department reminded citizens to follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you are using portable heaters to heat your home or apartment. [Read more…]

ORFD will recognize members for cardiac arrest save; honor firefighter, officer

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Steve London

Steve London

Eric Mocsari

Eric Mocsari

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will host a February ceremony that will recognize members for a cardiac arrest save in November and honor the firefighter and fire officer of the year.

The ceremony will be at 6 p.m. February 13 at Fire Station Number 3, which is at 333 Tuskegee Drive.

The Department will recognize Engine Company 2C for the cardiac arrest save, a press release said. This was the sixth cardiac arrest save within the last 12 months for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to check your smoke alarms

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Josh Waldo

Josh Waldo

The Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to check your smoke alarms and has now made it even easier for them to do that, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department has provided a new link that people can use to schedule a time for firefighters to come and check their smoke alarms. Citizens can visit the Oak Ridge Fire Department website here and click on the smoke alarm program link on the right of the page or they can use the QR code provided below and then click on the smoke alarm picture. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge fire captain injured in Sunday morning fire in Claxton

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An Oak Ridge Fire Department captain was injured Sunday morning while assisting on a mutual aid assignment in the Claxton community at 134 Allen Lane, a city press release said.

“It appears that a pressure surge in the water supply caused the captain to lose his grip on a hose line that he and his firefighter were operating in the front yard of the residence,” ORFD Deputy Chief Josh Waldo said. “The nozzle on the line came back and struck the captain in the face causing serious injuries.” [Read more…]

ORFD completes firefighter training in blighted home purchased by city

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Waddell Place Firefighter Training Fire

The Oak Ridge Fire Department finished scientific and training burns on Monday, January 5, 2015, on this blighted house purchased by the City of Oak Ridge on Waddell Place. (Photos by Tom Scott)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department completed scientific and training burns on Monday, January 5, on a blighted house on Waddell Place.

The home was in the Highland View neighborhood in north-central Oak Ridge.

The blighted house was recently purchased by the city, which then completed asbestos abatement on the property and removed other items such as shingles, plastics, and other non-wood products to meet Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation standards for live fire training, ORFD Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said. [Read more…]

No one injured in Foxwood Circle fire in Oliver Springs on Thursday

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Foxwood Circle Smoke in Oliver Springs

Heavy smoke and fire was visible at the rear of this house on Foxwood Circle in Oliver Springs on Thursday. (Photos by Tom Scott)

 

There were no injuries in a house fire late Thursday morning on Foxwood Circle in Oliver Springs.

The Oliver Springs Fire Department was able to respond quickly—arriving within four minutes—because of a new standby program. That program uses the Fire Department’s volunteers to staff the station with firefighters to improve staffing levels and allow faster response times, said Justin Bailey, Oliver Springs assistant fire chief.

He said Thursday’s porch fire at 120 Foxwood Circle was reported at 11:50 a.m., and it extended into the home’s attic. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes with help from the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Marlow Volunteer Fire Department through an automatic mutual-aid program. [Read more…]

ORFD responds to large fire at former Miller-Brewer Department Store in Harriman

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Miller-Brewer Department Store Fire at Harriman

Several fire departments, including Oak Ridge, battle a blaze on Thursday, January 9, at a vacant building in Harriman that once housed the Miller-Brewer Department Store. (Photos by Tom Scott)

 

Several local fire departments, including Oak Ridge’s, battled a blaze on Thursday, January 9, at a vacant building in Harriman that once housed the Miller-Brewer Department Store at the corner of North Roane Street and Crescent Street.

The fire was reported at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

The large building has three stories and a basement, and it has been vacant for 15 years or so, according to spectators. [Read more…]

Firefighters train in house fire on Waddell

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Waddell Place Training Fire 1

Oak Ridge firefighters trained Monday at a blighted home set on fire on Waddell Place.

 

Firefighters trained this week in a blighted house that they burned on Monday on Waddell Place in Oak Ridge.

If all goes well, two more blighted city-owned homes on Waddell Place could also be set on fire and used for training, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge assistant fire chief.

The city had state approval to burn the home on Monday. A plume of smoke that rose above the ridge top could be seen for miles on Monday morning. Non-wood products such as shingles and plastic were removed before the home was burned. [Read more…]