The State Fire Marshal’s Office has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Prevention Grant to purchase 20,000 smoke alarms to be installed in areas of Tennessee at highest risk for residential fire deaths. The alarms, which feature a 10-year sealed battery, are to be given directly to local fire departments for installation within their communities.
In order to receive the alarms, fire departments will need to send a representative to a train-the-trainer course on smoke alarm installation delivered by the Tennessee Fire Service and Code Enforcement Academy. Upon completion of the course, they will receive a copy of the class materials, a supply of smoke alarms, and public education brochures to give to the residents that receive the alarms.
The representative will then take the course back to train other members of their department so that the alarms can be installed immediately in homes at high risk within the community. If a fire department does not have the resources to install the alarms, they can present the course to civic/church/community service groups in their area and designate a portion of their alarm supply to that group for installation within the community. These alarms are not to be simply handed out, but are to be installed by the fire department or a group trained by the fire department.
Five dates and locations are listed below for southeast Tennessee. Those interested in participating in one of these course offerings can contact Claire Marsalis with the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 615.532-5847 or Claire.marsalis@tn.gov to RSVP. An RSVP is not mandatory to attend, but is desired so that the SFMO can plan for adequate alarms to distribute.
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m.
East Ridge, Tn. (Hamilton County)
East Ridge Fire Station 2
638 Camp Jordan Parkway
Tuesday, Dec.11, 4:30 p.m.
Benton, Tn. (Polk County)
West Polk Fire & Rescue Department
6034 Hwy 411
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.
Evensville, Tn. (Rhea County)
Rhea Co. Sheriff’s Training Center
711 Eagle Lane
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 4:30 p.m.
Athens, Tn. (McMinn County)
Athens Municipal Building
815 N. Jackson
Thursday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m.
Alcoa, Tn. (Blount County)
Alcoa Fire Department, Headquarters
2010 North Wright Road