Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge firefighters help battle Cove Lane blaze

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Cove Lane Fire

Firefighters respond to a Tuesday morning fire at a single-story brick home on Cove Lane north of Oliver Springs. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Oak Ridge firefighters helped battle a Tuesday morning blaze that severely damaged a single-story home on Cove Lane north of Oliver Springs.

No one was injured, but firefighters were not able to resuscitate a dog that was rescued from the brick house, according to information provided by Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo and fire photographer Tom Scott.

Waldo did not have information on the cause of the attic fire, which started at about 9:50 a.m. Tuesday. Reports said the fire heavily damaged the home.

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Top firefighters can issue tickets for parking violations

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Three top officers in the Oak Ridge Fire Department can now issue tickets for parking violations, but they will only use that authority in limited circumstances, such as when drivers block access to a fire hydrant or fire lane, Chief Darryl Kerley said Friday.

“It’s not like we’re going to be out patrolling the area writing tickets,” Kerley said.

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Fire Department begins wildfire campaign next week

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As more homes are built in wooded areas, the threat posed by wildfires increases, so the Oak Ridge Fire Department has launched a new fire prevention program called Fire Wise.

Announced by Fire Chief Darryl Kerley on Friday, the new program is an effort to make residents more aware of the potential for a wild land fire.

Starting next week, Oak Ridge Fire Department employees will begin distributing Fire Wise materials via a door-to-door campaign to homes located off of Scenic Drive on the east end of town and Whippoorwill Drive on the west end.

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Chief: Don’t fight your own fires

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Electrical Fire

A photo submitted by Oak Ridge Fire Department shows an April fire on East Drive possibly caused by an electrical problem.

So far this year, two Oak Ridge homes have been destroyed by fires after residents tried to fight the flames themselves and calls to 911 were delayed by five minutes or more, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said in an e-mail to the media Monday.

Now, Kerley is urging residents to call 911 immediately if they see smoke or fire. “We’re trying to notify the public to please, please call us,” he said.

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