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HomeNewsTennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office Highlights Year-End Accomplishments

Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office Highlights Year-End Accomplishments

Tennessee State Fire MarshalNashville, TN The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) finished 2017 by distributing nearly 25,000 free smoke alarms, earning national recognition for its progressive fire prevention efforts and securing federal funding to continue the “Get Alarmed” smoke alarm program into 2018.

“Our Fire Prevention Division staff is dedicated to protecting Tennesseans and their property from the dangers of fire,” said Tennessee State Fire Marshal and Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We’re proud of our 2017 accomplishments and are looking forward to setting new goals to further improve public safety in 2018 and beyond.”

Smoke Alarm
Smoke Alarm

The SFMO is comprised of eight sections that work daily to enhance both civilian and firefighter safety: Education & Outreach; Fire Investigations; Codes Enforcement; Residential, Electrical, & Marina Inspections; Manufactured Housing & Modular Buildings; Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy; Firefighting Commission; and Administrative Services.

“Fire safety starts before the fire,” said TDCI Deputy Commissioner Gary West. “From building inspections and smoke alarm installations to firefighter training and permit issuance, our talented and passionate staff works daily alongside our local partners to make sure Tennessee citizens are prepared and protected.”  

In 2017, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office:

  • Distributed nearly 25,000 smoke alarms to local partners as part of its “Get Alarmed, Tennessee” program. The SFMO has distributed over 161,000 free smoke alarms since the program started in 2012. Over 190 lives have been documented as being saved since the program’s inception in 2012.
  • Conducted 14 door-to-door smoke alarm canvasses in communities across the state, installing 2,700 alarms.
  • Received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety Grant totaling $266,667 to continue the life-saving “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” program into 2018.
  • Awarded the 2017 Olin Greene Outstanding Fire Prevention Service Award by the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) at the organization’s annual conference.
  • Conducted 390 total fire investigations:  Five explosion events, seven explosive recoveries, 57 accidental, 104 arson, two natural, and 215 undetermined fires. The SFMO’s Fire Investigations Section has also investigated 44 unintentional fire deaths and six intentional fire deaths in 2017.
  • Completed 1,065 training classes, conducted 272,597 contact hours and had 62 new firefighter recruit graduates at the Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA).
  • Certified 3,879 firefighters in various levels of certification and conducted over 500 testing events through the Tennessee Firefighting Commission.
  • Performed 13,789 building codes inspections, 549 blasting inspections, 189,191 electrical inspections and 2,764 residential inspections.
  • Issued 120,118 electrical permits and 1,013 residential permits.  
  • Issued a total of 6,991 licenses for professionals in the following categories: LP gas, extinguishers, fireworks, sprinklers, codes, explosives and cigarettes.
  • Received 864 building plan submittals.

For more information about the State Fire Marshal’s Office or to download a free copy of the 2018 Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office calendar, visit tn.gov/commerce/fire-prevention.

Note: The statistics above are year-to-date. The State Fire Marshal’s 2017 Annual Report will be available in February 2018 and will include the complete year-end statistics. 

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