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Burn ban in effect in Oak Ridge, restrictions in OS

Posted at 8:49 pm November 10, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge remains under a burn ban, and there are fire restrictions in Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Travis Solomon issued a burn ban on November 5.

“Due to the dry conditions in our region, no burn permits will be issued until further notice,” the City of Oak Ridge said. “Outdoor burning without a permit is banned by city ordinance.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: burn ban, burn permits, fire restrictions, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Fire Department, Travis Solomon

Ray Burney promoted to ORFD battalion chief

Posted at 1:19 am March 10, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ray Burney

Ray Burney has been promoted to battalion chief in the Oak Ridge Fire Department.

Burney, who has recently served as an Oak Ridge Fire Department captain, takes on the new role following Eric Rackard’s promotion to fire marshal last month, the city said in a press release.

Burney will be battalion chief of the ORFD’s A Shift.

“I truly do appreciate Chief (Travis) Solomon for giving me this opportunity in my career, and I look forward to working with everyone,” Burney said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: battalion chief, Eric Rackard, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Ray Burney, Travis Solomon

Eric Rackard is new Oak Ridge fire marshal

Posted at 2:41 pm February 5, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Eric Rackard

The City of Oak Ridge has named Eric Rackard as its new fire marshal.

Rackard, who has recently served as an Oak Ridge Fire Department battalion chief, takes on the new role following Travis Solomon’s promotion to fire chief last month. Rackard joined the department in November 2007, a press release said.

“I am honored by this promotion and greater opportunity to serve the citizens of Oak Ridge,” Rackard said in the press release.

In the role of battalion chief, Rackard managed daily operation requirements for the Fire Department’s A Shift, including staffing, overtime, training, and logistics. 

“I was also responsible for command and control on all major incidents on A Shift,” Rackard said. “I also lead a lot of trainings, including coordinating state commission training and serving as the hazardous materials team leader.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: fire marshal, Jody Durham, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Travis Solomon

Solomon named Oak Ridge fire chief

Posted at 10:36 am December 17, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Travis Solomon (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge has named Travis Solomon as its new fire chief.

Solomon, who previously served as Oak Ridge Fire Department fire marshal, has served as interim fire chief since former Chief Darryl Kerley’s departure in August. Solomon begins serving as fire chief immediately, a press release said.

“Oak Ridge has always been the model and leading fire service,” Solomon said in the press release. “I want to continue that and enhance the services we provide to better our ability to serve the public.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: fire chief, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Travis Solomon

Fire chief leaving ORFD to become teacher for state

Posted at 2:33 pm August 12, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley is leaving the Oak Ridge Fire Department on Friday, August 21, and he will become a full-time fire service instructor and coordinator for the State of Tennessee, a press release said.

Kerley has 43 years of active fire service with four different fire departments, the press release said. He was fire chief of three of those departments for 22 years.

Besides serving his last day as fire chief in Oak Ridge on Friday, August 21, Kerley will mark another milestone that day: It will be the last day of his six-year appointment to the Tennessee Commission on Firefighter Standards and Education.

“Serving as fire chief for the important and historical City of Oak Ridge and being appointed to the Fire Commission by Governor Bill Haslam have been the highlights of my professional career,” Kerley said in the press release. “It truly has been an honor and privilege to serve as fire chief of such a great city and to be part of the development of the national park at the K-25 site and the K-25 History Center. This is one of the finest fire departments I’ve ever been associated with and has some of the best-trained people in the State of Tennessee.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Darryl Kerley, fire chief, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Travis Solomon

Readers ask: Is it okay to grill during burn ban?

Posted at 10:08 pm November 15, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

anderson-county-fires-smoke-oliver-springs-nov-10-2016-web

More than 4,000 acres have burned this month in six fires in rugged, forested parts of north Anderson County, state officials said. Smoke hangs high in the air above the mountains north of Oliver Springs on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A few readers have had questions about whether it is okay to cook on a grill while the burn ban is in effect. There has been some confusion because various burn bans have been announced, and they often haven’t included information about grilling.

One burn ban announced Monday by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam bans burning in 51 counties because of the ongoing drought and continuing forest fires. The burn ban includes all eastern Tennessee counties, including Anderson, Campbell, Loudon, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union. Residents in those counties are not permitted to conduct any open-air burning. The ban includes campfires and burning of brush, vegetation, household waste, or construction debris. The ban will remain in effect until December 15. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, burn ban, forest fires, grililng, Sarah Self, Travis Solomon

Fire marshal hired in Oak Ridge

Posted at 10:18 am February 22, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 7 Comments

Travis Solomon

Travis Solomon

A deputy state fire marshal has been hired as fire marshal in Oak Ridge.

The selection of Travis Solomon for the Oak Ridge Fire Department post was announced Monday by Fire Chief Darryl Kerley.

Solomon was an employee of the Tennessee Fire Marshal’s office. For the past 13 years, he has served as the deputy state fire marshal in charge of fire and life safety codes for the buildings and facilities at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a press release said.

Solomon has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, and he has 17 years of experience in fire, rescue, and emergency medical services, having also served with the New Market Fire Department, the press release said. He is currently a captain with New Market and maintains their FireHouse software for records management and state incident reporting. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Darryl Kerley, fire marshal, Mark Watson, New Market Fire Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office, Travis Solomon

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Classifieds

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...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

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

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