Take Action to Prevent Home Fires this Winter Season

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) and the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) advise Tennessee residents that a few easy fire safety measures can help them stay warm and safe during the upcoming cold months as winter officially begins on December 21st. The most hazardous time of year for residential structure fires in Tennessee is winter. Compared to other seasons, fire agencies report a 66% increase in home fire fatalities during the winter. In Tennessee, almost 28% of the known causes of residential structure fires are related to cooking and smoking. In addition, throughout the past ten years, medical oxygen has contributed to almost 10% of fire fatalities in the Volunteer State. Every homeowner’s first line of defense against home fires throughout the year is a functional smoke alarm. The SFMO’s “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” free smoke alarm campaign is assisting in lowering the danger of home fires to protect Tennessee residents and save lives. More than 273,000 smoke alarms have been installed since the program’s launch in 2012, and 506 verifiable saves have occurred. Visit tn.gov/fire for more information.