SFMO Honors Departments with Excellence in Community Risk Reduction Award

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) recently honored three fire departments with the Excellence in Community Risk Reduction Award at its annual Fire Loss Symposium held September 14-15, 2017 in Chattanooga.

Members of the Madison County Fire Department, Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department, and Gallatin Fire Department were chosen as recipients of the award which recognizes departments that have exemplified outstanding dedication to prevent or mitigate the loss of life, property, and resources associated with life safety, fire, and other disasters within their community.

“We’re proud to honor the progressive approach and innovative leadership of these three fire departments,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Deputy Commissioner Gary West. “Their commitment to the application of fire prevention practices, adoption and implementation of codes, integration of risk assessment and mitigation will go a long way in making their local community and our state a safer place to live and work.”

Any individual working within the state engaged in community risk reduction and public fire and life safety education was eligible to apply for the Excellence in Community Risk Reduction Award. Award winners were selected by a panel of professionals from the National Fire Protection Association, the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s Office, the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service, and Vision 20/20. The winners were presented with a plaque at the SFMO’s symposium.

Over 60 fire service professionals from across Tennessee and around the nation attended this year’s Fire Loss Symposium. The annual event gathers fire service organizations to discuss Tennessee’s fire death problem and develop mitigation strategies and solutions to better protect citizens.

Highlights of this year’s symposium included the introduction of a statewide Community Risk Reduction Plan aimed at giving fire departments a more intimate look at their communities. The plan includes a customized risk profile for each department with facts about the demographics that make up their community, what their fire problem looks like, and mitigation strategies to assist with their fire problem, to name a few.

Pictures from the SMFO’s Fire Loss Symposium can be found on TDCI’s Flickr account. 

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