• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Smoke alarms help residents escape fire that destroys home

Posted at 1:18 am February 1, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, Jan. 30, 2018, authorities said. The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton. (Photo by Bill Gallaher)

Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, Jan. 30, 2018, authorities said. The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton. (Photo by Bill Gallaher)

 

Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton.

Firefighters determined that the fire started on a porch, although the cause is unknown, said Stephanie Fox, chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

All four people inside the home escaped with no injuries, Fox said. Smoke alarms went off and woke up the residents, Fox said Wednesday.

By the time firefighters arrived, the front porch and roof were on fire, or “fully involved,” Fox said. Firefighters fought the fire from outside the home in what is known as a defensive attack. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Front Page News, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Adam Warren, Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, Clear Branch Road, fire, Hidden Hills Drive, Hidden Valley Road, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Robert J. Collins, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, Stephanie Fox

Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to check your smoke alarms

Posted at 7:05 pm January 25, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, smoke alarms

State: Sprinkler system saves lives in Oak Ridge assisted living fire

Posted at 5:25 pm February 5, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Patriot Park Assisted Living Fire

Firefighters remove water from Patriot Park Assisted Living on Gum Hollow Road after putting out a small bed fire Friday evening. The fire was kept in check by a sprinkler system before Oak Ridge firefighters arrived and extinguished the flames.

An Oak Ridge assisted living center is thankful for its sprinkler system after a fire broke out on the premises Friday, state officials said Wednesday. All residents were safely evacuated and property damage contained to one room because of the sprinkler system.

This news comes at the same time as investigators comb through the fire-devastated ruins of an assisted living community in L’isle Verte, Quebec. where 25 residents lost their lives. The major difference between the two fires is that the assisted living building in Oak Ridge was equipped with a working sprinkler system, a press release said.

“The damage to the building was minimal, and no residents were displaced,” Oak Ridge Fire Department Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said of the Friday evening fire at Patriot Park Assisted Living on Gum Hollow Road. “Without the sprinkler system, we believe the outcome would be very different.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: assisted living center, Darryl Kerley, fire, Gary West, Gum Hollow Road, home escape plans, Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge, Patriot Park, smoke alarms, sprinkler system

Reminder: Change clocks, smoke alarm batteries this weekend

Posted at 9:45 am November 2, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted

With daylight savings time coming to an end this weekend and everyone setting their clocks back on Saturday night, the Oak Ridge Fire Department wants to remind everyone that it is time to change their smoke alarm batteries.

Smoke alarms should be checked at least once a month for proper operation and the batteries should be changed every six months. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: batteries, daylight savings time, Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, smoke alarms

Video: ORFD demonstrates fire ‘flashover’ in three minutes

Posted at 11:42 am October 18, 2013
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Have you ever heard the term “flashover”? Do you know how fast fire spreads throughout your house? Do you have a home escape plan? For the answers to these questions, and more, watch this video from the Oak Ridge Fire Department.

The Fire Department demonstrates how a fire that starts in a trash can in the corner of a room can “flash over” at 1,150 degrees and engulf an entire room in flames in about three minutes.

ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said the Fire Department would prefer that residents not try to fight fires themselves unless they’ve had training in using a fire extinguisher and have it immediately available. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Videos Tagged With: Darryl Kerley, fire, fire deaths, Fire Prevention and Public Education Program Month, flashover, Gary West, home escape plan, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, smoke alarms, State Fire Marshal

Fire Prevention Week: State reminds Tennesseans to prevent kitchen fires

Posted at 11:53 am October 11, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted

It’s Fire Prevention Week this week, and from Oct. 6-12 the State Fire Marshal’s Office is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association to remind local residents to “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” During this year’s fire safety campaign, fire departments will be spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires—most of which result from unattended cooking—and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.

According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two out of every five home fires begin in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Many of these fires occur within minutes of residents leaving the kitchen.

“Cooking fires are the second leading cause of fatal fires in Tennessee so far this year,” said State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “Fifteen percent of fire victims died from fires caused by cooking. To prevent these tragedies, we must be mindful in the kitchen.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Police and Fire, State, Top Stories Tagged With: cooking, Fire Prevention Week, fire safety, food, Julie Mix McPeak, kitchen fires, National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, smoke alarms, State Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal's Office, stove

Oak Ridge fire chief to discuss risks, smoke alarms, exit plans

Posted at 2:27 pm October 10, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Darryl Kerley

Darryl Kerley

Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley will discuss at-risk populations and the importance of smoke alarms and exit plans during a meeting this evening.

It’s the monthly meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, and it starts at 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Midtown Community Center. The public is invited.

Kerley will talk about the city’s aging population being somewhat “at risk” and the importance of smoke alarms, exit plans, and personal information forms for residents with special needs at home during an emergency. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: at-risk, Darryl Kerley, exit plans, fire deaths, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, ORFD, personal information forms, smoke alarms

ORFD has fire demonstration Tuesday for Fire Prevention Month

Posted at 8:28 am October 7, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fire Department Burn Cell

A burn cell flashes over during a recent Oak Ridge Fire Department open house. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will have a fire demonstration Tuesday as part of Fire Prevention and Public Education Program month.

The demonstration is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fire Station No. 3, located at 333 Tuskegee Drive.

It’s the official kick off for remembering the Great Chicago Fire, which burned from Sunday, Oct. 8, to early Tuesday, Oct. 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying thousands of acres of property and buildings, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: burn cells, Darryl Kerley, exit drills, fire deaths, fire demonstration, Fire Prevention and Public Education Program, Gary West, Great Chicago Fire, Josh Waldo, National Forensic Academy, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, smoke alarms, State Fire Marshal, University of Tennessee

ORNL physicist to discuss sensors, detection technologies

Posted at 10:27 am October 1, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bruce Warmack

Bruce Warmack

A physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss sensors and detection technologies, such as those used in smoke alarms, at a Friends of ORNL meeting on Tuesday.

The talk by Bruce Warmack of the ORNL Measurement Science and Systems Engineering Division is titled “Making machines sense our world.”

The meeting is open to the public, and it starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the University of Tennessee Resource Center at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories Tagged With: Bruce Warmack, detection technologies, Friends of ORNL, Making machines sense our world, Measurement Science and Systems Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, physicist, sensors, Smart Smoke Alarm, smoke alarms, University of Tennessee Resource Center

Spring forward, change smoke detector batteries

Posted at 5:19 pm March 9, 2013
By Oak Ridge Fire Department Leave a Comment

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…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: batteries, daylight savings time, fire deaths, Josh Waldo, Julie Mix McPeak, Oak Ridge Fire Department, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, State Fire Marshal

Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office urges safety in manufactured homes

Posted at 11:58 am February 8, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents of manufactured homes—also known as mobile homes or trailers—to practice fire safety.

More than 250,000 of these homes exist in Tennessee.

“Fires move more quickly in smaller spaces, leaving occupants with less time to escape. This is why it is crucial to have working smoke alarms installed in all homes,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “Develop and practice a home fire escape with your loved ones so that everyone knows what to do when the alarm sounds.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: fatalities, fire protection, fires, Julie Mix McPeak, manufactured home fires, manufactured homes, mobile homes, smoke alarms, Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office, trailers

ORFD recommends alarms that detect flaming, smoldering fires

Posted at 1:48 am October 15, 2012
By John Huotari 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…]

Filed Under: Police and Fire Tagged With: flaming fires, Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge Fire Department, smoke alarms, smoldering fires

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today