NASHVILLE — During Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10), at least 10 Tennessee fire departments will take part in the inaugural “100 For 100” smoke alarm installation challenge.
These fire departments will attempt to install at least 100 smoke alarms in a 24-hour period in their communities to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the State Fire Marshall’s Office (SFMO). The goal for the combined total is to install 1,000 smoke alarms across Tennessee in a day. The list includes fire departments from these municipalities and counties:
- Cocke County
- Cookeville, Tenn.
- Madison County
- Manchester, Tenn.
- Memphis, Tenn.
- Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.
- Paris, Tenn.
- Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
- Ripley, Tenn.
- South Greene, Tenn.
Properly located and installed smoke alarms matter when it comes to your family’s smoke alarms. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign has the theme, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” This stresses the importance of placing working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a home, including the basement.
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) this week to remind Tennesseans about the importance of working smoke alarms.
“In a fire, every second counts,” said State Fire Marshal and Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
In Tennessee, the SFMO and partners have distributed more than 88,000 free smoke alarms across Tennessee that have saved the lives of 106 people so far and helped dramatically reduce Tennessee’s fire death rate. This year, the SFMO and partners will stress the importance fire sprinklers and smoke alarms. Among the activities for the Memphis area is an Oct. 10 smoke alarm installation program, partnering with the Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross. For details, visit NFPA’s Web site at firepreventionweek.org and sparky.org/fpw.
