State Fire Marshal To Hold Fire Safety Education Event October 7 at Bicentennial Mall
Thursday, October 06, 2011 | 10:20am
NASHVILLE- October is Fire Prevention Month, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is launching an effort to help local communities learn and address the factors that too frequently contribute to fires that take the lives of Tennesseans.
“To kick off Fire Prevention Month, our Fire Prevention Division will promote fire safety education from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park,” Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak said. “For too many years, Tennessee has occupied an undesirable ranking in the country for fire deaths. One fire death is too many, honestly. Friday, we’ll be talking about the steps we will be taking, along with local fire departments, to reverse this horrible trend through education and support.”
During the program, there will be safety demonstrations, and personnel will be on hand to present fire safety information. The State Fire Marshal Office’s Bomb and Arson section also will have its Special Operations Response Team (SORT) truck for attendees to tour, along with other response vehicles on display. Commissioner McPeak will speak at 3 p.m.
“We want Tennesseans to be aware of risks in the home that can lead to fatal fires. For example, falling asleep while smoking in bed or in a comfortable chair remains a significant cause of fire deaths in Tennessee,” McPeak said. “Having operable smoke alarms in the home makes a significant difference in enabling someone to escape a burning home.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office also would like to remind Tennessee residents to avoid practices in the home that quickly become hazardous, such as:
- keeping space heaters too close to bedding or drapes,
- burning candles or incense near flammable materials,
- using frayed cables, extension cords or holiday lighting sets, overloading wall outlets and surge protectors, and
- improperly storing or disposing of chemicals.
McPeak urges Tennessee families to practice their home escape plan this month. “Having an established escape route is one of the most important things Tennessee families can do. We encourage them to rehearse it routinely – not just in October, but throughout the year.”
Residents also should replace smoke alarms’ batteries when adjusting clocks for daylight saving time. They can do that on November 6, when daylight saving time ends and clocks are set back an hour this year.
For further information, contact 615-741-2981 or visit www.tn.gov/commerce/sfm. The Department of Commerce and Insurance works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. www.tn.gov/commerce/