Oak Ridge Fire Department

06/20/2026

ORFD Firefighter and paramedic’s heart attack survival underscores importance of men’s health awareness:
https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/paramedic-heart-attack-awareness/

"Most men like to be the provider, take care of their family and not take care of themselves. So, I would say put yourself first. Get that annual check. Get those screenings. Do the cardiac scans."

06/20/2026

🔥 BIG NEWS FOR EAST TN HEROES! 🔥

Starting this fall, we are launching a brand-new academic emphasis in fire science, the first of its kind in the region!

Whether you're planning to start a career in emergency services or you’re a veteran firefighter looking to level up, this new pathway could be for you. Here's what you can expect!

📕 Specialized Courses: Covering everything from fire investigation and disaster management to leadership and rescue awareness. (Several classes this fall!)

🔀 Seamless Transfer: Thanks to a new agreement with the University of Tennessee at Martin, all your Roane State fire science credits will transfer straight into a bachelor’s degree. More transfer options will be announced soon.

🚒 Earn Certifications Locally: Roane State is now authorized to provide curriculum for Hazmat Awareness/Operations and Firefighter I & II certifications, saving you travel time.

👩‍🚒👨‍🚒 Real-World Training: We're partnering with Oak Ridge Fire Department as well as the Rockwood and Alcoa fire departments for hands-on experience and direct pipelines to jobs.

06/18/2026

It's not uncommon to see mulch smoking in the summertime. Oak Ridge Firefighters recently had to quickly extinguish a small mulch fire in Jackson Square. They're seen using one of the pressurized water fire extinguishers carried on our fire engines. These extinguishers are an effective tool for putting out small outdoor fires before they can spread.

- 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Help protect your home by maintaining a clear separation between mulched landscaping beds and combustible exterior siding. This simple step can reduce the risk of a mulch fire spreading to your structure.

06/17/2026

Oak Ridge Firefighters were teaching Fire Safety at the Oak Ridge Preschool this spring!

The students learned about the gear a firefighter wears to stay safe inside a fire. This helps young kids understand how a firefighter appears and sounds, so the children are not afraid of firefighters when we search for children in a burning building.

The students also learned about crawling low in smoke and then practiced this skill. Crawling low in smoke is a fundamental skill that is built upon during the elementary school fire safety days when students learn about Exit Drills In The Home (EDITH). Students plan and practice these exit drills with their family so they can safely escape a house fire.

Learn more about the Oak Ridge Fire Department: oakridgetn.gov/fire
Apply to work with us: oakridgetn.gov/apply

06/15/2026

A first responder's "office" changes all the time. Keep their workplace safe, especially when it is on the side of the road. Always when you see flashing lights.

06/09/2026

As we head towards summer, we want everyone to understand that children are more vulnerable to heatstroke and that all hot car deaths are preventable. As parents, caregivers and bystanders, we all play a role in helping to prevent these tragic events.

Get the facts at noheatstroke.org

06/05/2026

When a child is inside an unattended vehicle, their temperature can rise quickly and the situation can become dangerous.

No parent or caregiver thinks this can happen to them, but dozens of children each year are either left behind in a vehicle or become trapped inside.

Visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke to learn more.

06/02/2026

🚨 Notice: Emergency Exercise at Oak Ridge National Laboratory 🚨

On Wednesday, June 3, emergency responders from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and federal, state, and local agencies will conduct a planned emergency response exercise at ORNL.
Exercise Time: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT

Residents may see emergency personnel conducting simulated response activities, environmental monitoring, and sampling around the Oak Ridge Reservation. These activities are part of a scheduled training exercise and are not related to an actual emergency.

Regular exercises like this help ensure emergency teams can respond quickly and effectively while protecting the public, employees, and the environment.

Learn how to prepare for a DOE emergency by visiting the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency website.

05/29/2026

The food trucks are the secret ingredient keeping the Atomic Fall Fest fully charged.

The Atomic Fall Fest returns with delicious food on Saturday, September 12!

Want your food truck to be a part of the fun? Visit: AtomicFallFest.com

05/27/2026

Fire Inspector George Carroll was recently promoted to Fire Marshal – Assistant Chief, who will lead the Fire Prevention Office.

Chief Carroll has worked for the City of Oak Ridge since 2007 and was promoted to Fire Inspector in 2015. He has over 30 years of fire service experience, starting his career with the Clinton Fire Department in 1995 and working for Bechtel for a short period at the K-25 site before transitioning in 2007 to the City.

During his time with the City, he completed a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration/Fire Investigation from Columbia Southern University. Currently, he is the 1st Vice President of the Tennessee Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (TNIAAI) and will become the President of the TNIAAI in August of this year.

This promotion is incredibly well deserved. Thank you for everything you do. We appreciate you and your commitment.