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Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
CONTACT: Kevin Walters
OFFICE: (615) 253-8941
State Fire Marshal’s “Get Alarmed” Program Records 129th Saved Life
“Get Alarmed” Smoke Alarms Save Memphis, Lewisburg Residents
NASHVILLE –New figures show that 129 Tennesseans were saved from fire danger during the past three years thanks to smoke alarms installed by fire departments and volunteers through the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) “Get Alarmed” program.
Earlier this month, the SFMO released data about saved lives through the “Get Alarmed” program and the record-breaking reduction of the state’s fire fatality rate. New information received this week from the Lewisburg Fire Department and the Memphis Fire Department shows the smoke alarms are having a bigger impact than initially reported.
The additions to the “Get Alarmed” saved list include:
- On Feb. 11, 2016, a Lewisburg homeowner made it out of his Douglas Avenue home safely after his service dog alerted him to the sound of a smoke alarm. The alarm was triggered by a cooking fire in the home. The alarm was installed during a canvass by members of the Lewisburg Fire Department and the Red Cross in December 2015.
- In October 2015, members of the Memphis Fire Department installed a smoke alarm in a home on Cummings Street. Less than a month later, the alarm alerted the home’s seven residents to a fire in the bedroom, enabling them to evacuate the structure and contact 911. Though the fire caused an estimated $15,000 in property damage, the smoke alarm gave residents the early warning needed to escape without harm. Thirty-seven people out of the 129 lives saved by “Get Alarmed” smoke alarms reside in the Memphis area.
“A working smoke alarm can save lives from the devastating effects of a fire,” said Gary West, Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Deputy Commissioner for Fire Prevention. “The ‘Get Alarmed’ program was launched as a way to get crucial early warning devices into homes statewide — and it’s working. By providing smoke alarms to participating fire departments for installation in their local communities, we have seen a drastic reduction in our state’s fire fatality rate.”
Launched in November 2012, the “Get Alarmed” program is responsible for over 100,000 smoke alarms being distributed by the SFMO. More than 450 Tennessee fire service partners installed the 10-year battery alarms in homes across the state.
This program, along with focused fire prevention in Tennessee’s high-risk areas, has helped increase awareness about the dangers of fire and save lives. Tennessee has seen a 28% reduction in fire fatalities over the last five years (2011-2015) from the previous five-year average (2006-2010) when the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ranked Tennessee as No. 6 in the nation for fire deaths.
Fewer unintentional structure fire fatalities occurred in 2015 than in any year in recorded Tennessee history, including a milestone year achieved in 2014. Seventy-two (72) people died in accidental home fires across the state in 2015 — down from 76 in 2014. Both years were record-breaking improvements compared to 2013’s fire fatality total of 100.
The SFMO urges all Tennesseans to make fire safety a priority by ensuring they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home, including the basement. Outdated alarms may not work properly. If your home’s smoke alarms are 10 years old or older, they should be replaced with new alarms.
For more information, visit the Get Alarmed webpage.
About the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance: TDCI is charged with protecting the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the Athletic Commission, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Corrections Institute, Emergency Communications Board, Fire Prevention, Insurance, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Peace Officers Standards and Training, Regulatory Boards, Securities, and TennCare Oversight.
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