Oak Ridge Today

Chimney fire causes minor damage

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ithaca Lane Chimney Fire

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to a chimney fire on Ithaca Lane that caused minor damage Tuesday evening. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A Tuesday evening chimney fire caused minor damage to a home on Ithaca Lane, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said.

The 6:09 p.m. fire was contained to the home’s fireplace and chimney flue, the report said.

Firefighters reported there had been extensive fire on the flue cap and flames on the flue walls, possibly from creosote. There was some smoke in the attic, but no fire or excessive heat, the report said.

[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.

Man rescued from lift after tree limb falls onto power line

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Culver Road Rescue

The Oak Ridge Electric Department, left, cut the power to a Culver Road home after a tree limb fell onto a line, knocking it to the ground and onto a boom lift, right, used by the homeowner trimming the tree. The man was stranded in the lift until city workers could turn off the power.

A Culver Road man trimming trees at his home was stranded in a boom lift Friday night after a tree limb fell onto a power line, knocking it to the ground and onto the lift, authorities said.

The man was able to be lowered to the ground after the Oak Ridge Electric Department disconnected the power. The man was not injured, but he was a little cold, Oak Ridge Police Officer Christopher Wallace said.

The man appeared to have been trapped about 20-30 feet in the air for about an hour on a chilly Friday night.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge man injured in rollover accident released from UT hospital

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge man injured in a rollover accident on South Illinois Avenue has been discharged from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

Montgomery Lloyd Samu-Dodson, 21, of Nevada Circle was flown by Lifestar helicopter to the hospital after the 9 p.m. Monday wreck at the Bethel Valley Road overpass.

[Read more…]

Driver injured in rollover accident on South Illinois Avenue

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

South Illinois Avenue Rollover Accident

An Oak Ridge driver was injured in this rollover accident at about 9 p.m. Monday on South Illinois Avenue near Edgemoor Road, authorities said (Photo by Tom Scott)

An Oak Ridge driver injured in a rollover accident Monday night reportedly passed other cars at high speed and changed lanes before drifting off South Illinois Avenue, striking a cement bridge rail at Bethel Valley Road, and traveling a total of about 100 feet through the air, an accident report said.

The driver was trapped inside the vehicle, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said. Rescuers cut the unidentified driver out of the 1995 Jeep Cherokee, removing the vehicle’s roof, windshield, remaining side windows, and driver’s side doors.

The driver was then flown by a Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, an Oak Ridge Police Department report said.

The ORPD report identified the driver as Montgomery Lloyd Samu-Dodson, a 21-year-old Nevada Circle resident

[Read more…]

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…]

Griffith promoted to ORFD battalion chief

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley has promoted Marty Griffith to battalion chief.

A city press release said Griffith has more 14 years of experience in fire, rescue, and emergency medical services. He was one of five Oak Ridge Fire Department employees who sought the job, which was open due to a recent retirement.

[Read more…]

Burned pot of food triggers fire alarm, apartment evacuation

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Frank Callaghan Towers Fire

Oak Ridge firefighters evacuate the six floors of Frank Callaghan Towers on Fairbanks Road on Sunday morning after a burning pot of food on a stove reportedly filled hallways with smoke.

An apparent burned pot of food on a stove on the fifth floor of an Oak Ridge apartment building filled hallways with smoke on Sunday and forced firefighters to try to evacuate tenants from all six floors, Oak Ridge Deputy Fire Chief David Harrington said.

“When they opened up the door, it filled the hallways with smoke,” Harrington said.

Firefighters tried to evacuate tenants at the Callaghan Towers apartments on Fairbanks Road because they didn’t initially know the source of the 9:45 a.m. alarm, but Harrington said he wasn’t sure how many people were evacuated.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department ranks second in state academy training hours

Posted at
By 4 Comments

The Oak Ridge Fire Department recently learned it ranked second in the state in total training hours through a state fire academy.

The department completed 3,970 hours of training through the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy during fiscal year 2012, which ended June 30.

Oak Ridge ranked second among 734 fire departments, a city press release said.

[Read more…]