Fire Prevention Week Kickoff Set for Bicentennial Mall State Park on Oct. 7
NASHVILLE –The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is kicking off National Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15) with an annual safety event on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in downtown Nashville to increase fire safety awareness to all Tennesseans.
To officially launch Fire Prevention Week, the SFMO is partnering with several Tennessee fire departments, the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, 96.3 Jack FM, the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and the Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) to focus on fire safety education. The event will feature live demonstrations, free giveaways for adults and kids, inflatables, new and antique fire trucks, and Sparky the Fire Dog.
“This annual event brings together fire service professionals, adults and children for a common goal of fire safety,” said State Fire Marshal and Tennessee Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Education is a key part of continuing to reduce the loss of life and property in Tennessee so we look forward to sharing life-saving information with the public.”
The event ties into the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) nationwide theme of “Don’t Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years” which focuses consumer attention on smoke alarm replacement. It is the third consecutive year that smoke alarms have been the focus of the National Fire Prevention Week because NFPA data shows that there are still many misconceptions about smoke alarms. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code®, requires smoke alarms be replaced at least every 10 years.
“Few people know how old their smoke alarms actually are which may put homeowners at increased risk in the event of a fire,” said TDCI Deputy Commissioner Gary West. “Smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years. To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the manufacture date on the back of the alarm. The alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date. ”
In Tennessee, the SFMO’s “Get Alarmed” program has distributed over 122,000 smoke alarms throughout Tennessee to more than 475 partnering organizations since 2012. Smoke alarms distributed through the program are credited with saving 147 Tennesseans from fire danger.
Who: SFMO, Ashland City Fire Department (FD), Franklin FD, Murfreesboro FD, Pleasant View FD, Oak Ridge FD, Red Cross, Jack FM, Tennessee Division of Forestry, and the Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy.
What: 2016 Fire Prevention Week Kick-off Event
When: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (CDT) Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 (weather permitting). Deputy Commissioner Gary West will make remarks at 11:30 a.m. A sprinkler demonstration is planned to occur at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Plaza at 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee 37243. Site includes convenient bus drop-off area and picnic tables.
Contact: For more event information, contact Community Risk Reduction Educator Alex Daugherty at 615-574-0240.
Tennesseans in need of a smoke alarm can utilize the SFMO’s online alarm form to request a free installation. To learn more about smoke alarms and the “Don’t Wait, Check the Date!” message, visit NFPA’s website at www.firepreventionweek.org.
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