It’s a fact that smoke detectors save lives. Every residence should have an adequate number of smoke detectors in place and working, to insure early detection and warning of fire.
Right now the fire departments of Lafayette, Red Boiling Springs and Willette each have approximately 100 smoke detectors available free of charge to any household that wants them. Residents must simply call any of the fire departments and tell them that you would like to have your smoke detectors checked or new ones installed and a crew will be sent to your home to inspect, test and replace any detectors that you have and install additional ones as may be needed for the size and design of your home.
The Tennessee State Fire Marshalls Office has obtained thousands of dollars via the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security to be used for the purchase and distribution of smoke detectors to residents of Tennessee.
Here are a few TN fire facts from the year 2011:
A fire department responded to an alarm every minute and a half.
A fire department responded to a fire every 20 minutes.
One structure fire was reported every 55 minutes.
One home structure fire was reported every hour and 10 minutes.
One home fire injury was reported every 42 hours.
One home fire death occurred every 5 days.
Several counties in Tennessee are identified as High Risk counties targeted for improvement activities.
45.2% of all households in highest risk census tracts are located in 10 counties, those being Carter, Greene, Johnson, Bedford, Grainger, Campbell, Carroll, Macon, Polk and Hawkins.
The counties were classified by a formula which takes into account various factors such as population, population density, economic data and the number of fire deaths within those counties. Due to several specific events and these factors over the past few years Macon County has fallen into this High Risk category.
This is in no way a reflection on the Fire Services rendered by the three Fire Departments in Macon County or those which provide us mutual aid from Trousdale County, Allen County and other neighboring areas. In fact Macon County has outstanding and well trained fire suppression personnel, as well as excellent equipment.
The response times, fire supression rates and “saves” accomplished by the Lafayette Fire Department, Red Boiling Springs Fire Department and Willette Fire Department are outstanding and far above average for “small town and rural” departments staffed primarily by volunteers with a limited number of full time paid firefighters.
The goal of the State Fire Marshalls’ Office and the Fire Departments in Macon County is to get Macon County out of this High Risk classification. One means of achieving this to eventually get working smoke detectors in EVERY residence in Macon County. Homes with working smoke detectors are 43% less likely to have a fire related death.
Along with the checking and installation of the smoke detectors in your home, while they are being checked and installed by a firefighter, another fire services professional will provide you additional information about fire safety in your home. They will also answer any other questions you may have regarding fire safety and provide you advice on any fire related issues you may be concerned with.
While there, the firefighters will also collect some very basic information about you, your family and your home which will be documented and used to help responders get to you and or to get your family out of the structure if need be.
The Fire Departments of Macon County have set a goal l to get all of these initial 300 detectors delivered and installed before December 31st, at which time they will be able to request more from the State Fire Marshals’ Office. Additionally, all of these departments typically use various sources of funding to purchase detectors on their own for distribution.
Phone numbers are: Lafayette Fire Dept. - 666-2190; Red Boiling Springs Fire Dept. – 699-2011; Willette Volunteer Fire Dept. 699-4576.
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