Oak Ridge Today

Man pulled unconscious from burning truck discharged from UT hospital

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Irene Lane Crash

Jason J. West of Oliver Springs has been discharged from a Knoxville hospital after being pulled unconscious from this burning pickup truck on Irene Lane on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge Police Department)

The Oliver Springs man who was pulled unconscious from a burning pickup truck on Irene Lane on Friday night has been discharged from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Jason J. West, 25, of Old Hen Valley Road, hit two utility poles and damaged concrete curbs as his 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck went down an embankment on the east side of North Illinois Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Christopher W. Wallace said the pickup truck was in heavy brush about 100 feet from the entrance to Irene Lane. Reports said it had flipped, and the engine compartment was engulfed in fire, Wallace wrote in a crash report. [Read more…]

Police rescue unconscious driver from burning vehicle

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Irene Lane Crash

Oak Ridge police officers rescued an unconscious driver from this burning vehicle on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge Police Department)

Oak Ridge police officers rescued an unconscious driver from a burning vehicle that went down an embankment on Irene Lane on Friday night, authorities said.

The unnamed driver, a 26-year-old Oak Ridge resident, was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after the 11:30 p.m. crash, which shut down the northbound lanes of North Illinois Avenue, authorities said.

Eight officers responded, and they used fire extinguishers to fight the flames and keep police from getting burned, an Oak Ridge Police Department statement said. The Oak Ridge Fire Department also responded.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department names firefighter, officer of the year

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Bryan Chase Firefighter of the Year

Firefighter and Paramedic Bryan Chase, left, was named 2012 Oak Ridge Fire Department Firefighter of the Year. Also pictured above is ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley. (Submitted photos)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department recently held a ceremony recognizing its 2012 Firefighter of the Year and Officer of the Year. The Oak Ridge Fire Department has implemented a formal awards program to recognize members for outstanding efforts and this was the first time awards have been issued for Firefighter and Officer of the Year.

Firefighter/Paramedic Bryan Chase was selected as the Firefighter of the Year by a group of his peers for his efforts during 2012. Chase has been with the department since 2007 and is currently assigned to Station 4. [Read more…]

Fire apparently caused by cigarette damages Tara Hills apartment

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Tara Hills Apartment Fire

A fire apparently caused by cigarette smoking caused minimal damage to a second-floor Tara Hills apartment on Wednesday afternoon.

A fire apparently caused by cigarette smoking caused minimal damage to a second-floor Tara Hills apartment on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

No one was home when firefighters arrived at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department assistant fire chief.

The fire caused an estimated $1,000 in damages, mostly to the building’s exterior, Waldo said.

Firefighters found an ashtray on the porch. They removed exterior paneling after they spotted smoke behind it.

Car burns on Hillside Road

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Hillside Road Car Fire

A car caught fire on Hillside Road near Hunter Circle on Saturday morning. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A car caught fire on Hillside Road at about 11:43 a.m. Saturday.

The car’s owner was driving west on Hillside Road near Hunter Circle when smoke started coming out from under the dash after she turned off her heater, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said. She unlatched the hood and her passenger disconnected the battery, but the car, owned by Louise Long of Oliver Springs, had already started to burn.

By the time firefighters arrived, the passenger compartment was on fire, the report said. They were able to extinguish it with a water hose. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department seeks to identify those who need special assistance

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department responds to many calls each day and provides a variety of services to residents throughout the city. One of the keys to providing successful services to citizens is having the best plan possible ahead of time, a press release said.

In addition, one of the most important pieces of home fire safety is having a home escape plan, and the Fire Department said it would like to work out a plan ahead of time for residents who have special needs and would need additional assistance evacuating their house in the event of an emergency. [Read more…]

Firefighters extinguish Palmer Road chimney fire

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Palmer Road Chimney Fire

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responds to a chimney fire on Palmer Road on Sunday afternoon. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Firefighters used pressurized water cans and ladders to extinguish a chimney fire on Palmer Road on Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters also used a pole to remove creosote in the chimney during the 2:30 p.m. fire, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said.

Firefighters put out a fire in the fireplace and carried the contents outside, where they extinguished them, the report said. [Read more…]

Firefighters put out two-acre grass, brush blaze on Pine Ridge

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Summit Place Grass Fire

Oak Ridge firefighters respond to a grass and brush fire that grew to more than two acres on a vacant lot on top of Pine Ridge on Thursday afternoon. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A brush and grass fire on Pine Ridge in south Oak Ridge grew to more than two acres on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department was able to use tank water and a fire hydrant to battle the blaze, which was reported in a vacant lot off Summit Drive at about 3:45 p.m. Thursday, a report said.

[Read more…]

Fire Department, state Fire Academy hosting fire officer class

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department has been hosting the Tennessee Fire Academy for a Fire Officer I and II class, a press release said.

ORFD has been hosting the class with the Tennessee Fire Service and Code Academy. It started the first week of January and will end the last week of March.

[Read more…]

Small fire at EMS station goes out when power cut

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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

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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…]

Firefighters extinguish engine fire in Walmart parking lot

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Firefighters extinguished an engine fire in the Walmart parking lot on Wednesday afternoon, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said.

Firefighters responded to the fire at about 3:06 p.m. Wednesday. They reported a red Dodge pickup had flames coming from the engine compartment when they arrived.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, and the vehicle, which had been driven by Jerald Miller, was towed from the parking lot.