Oak Ridge Today

State: Rocky Top wildfire 100 percent contained

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The wildfire on a ridge above Rocky Top is pictured above from City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Rocky Top wildfire that started last week and emitted smoke visible for miles had burned 397 acres and was 100 percent contained by mid-morning Thursday, according to the Tennessee Division of Forestry.

In a press release, Anderson County officials said forestry crews remained at the site to continue clearing lines of leaves that have fallen to the ground. Falling leaves that could cross fire lines was one of the main concerns of state officials.

The fire was reported off Scott Brogan Lane at about 6 p.m. Saturday. That road is across Lake City Highway from Lake City Middle School, south of downtown Rocky Top. Forestry crews estimated that they cut roughly 5.1 miles of fire line around the fire since it was reported.

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Man died after removing wife from fire, trying to rescue her special needs sister

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Law enforcement officials believe that a 64-year-old man removed his wife from a mobile home fire in Anderson County on Wednesday evening and died trying to rescue his special needs sister-in-law, who also died in the fire.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The mobile home was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, and victims were trapped in the home, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

The woman who was removed is Marianne Gremillion, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. She was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after the Wednesday evening fire. [Read more…]

Two people die in fire, one person in critical care

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Two people died in a fire in Anderson County Wednesday evening, and one person is in a critical care unit, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The house was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

One person was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and is in critical care there, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. [Read more…]