Firefighters Battle Blaze at Tenn. Steam Plant

April 29--Personnel from two fire departments spent most of the day today dousing a smoldering fire in the coal yard at the Bull Run Steam Plant, a Tennessee Valley Authority spokesman said.

Mark Brown, communications specialist with TVA, said shortly after 8 p.m. that there was a fire smoldering, but personnel with the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Claxton Volunteer Fire Department have it under control.

Brown said no injuries were reported and there is no danger to the public. The fire was discovered at 10 a.m. near the coal belt conveyor system which takes coal from the coal yard to the plant, he said.

"The cause is still under investigation," Brown said. "Scott Hambrick is plant manager and he said they've made good headway in getting it under control and used water and foam to inject into the smoldering area of the coal pile and they are continuing to monitor and work on it."

Personnel have been on location assisting firefighters since about 11 a.m., the Anderson County Sheriff's Office reported.

Rosemary Sharp with the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department said 15 to 20 of their members were fighting the fire and, when a mutual aid call went out for manpower from other fire departments, several agencies responded, she said.

"Most all of our members are down there," she said. "It's been a long day.

Copyright 2012 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.