The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance proudly announces that the "Get Alarmed, Tennessee!" program will continue providing life-saving smoke alarms to Tennesseans in 2020 with the recent approval of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety Grant.
Begun in 2012, the program distributes fire safety education and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to participating fire departments and other community partners. The program recently recorded its 20th life-saving alert after a Hardin County man escaped a fire in his home upon being alerted by a working smoke alarm installed by the Hardin County Fire Department on May 24, 2019. Since the program's inception, 279 people have been alerted by working smoke alarms installed through "Get Alarmed."
"The 'Get Alarmed, Tennessee!' program is an initiative that is aligned with Governor Bill Lee's focus on improving Tennessee's rural communities and bolstering public safety," said TDCI Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Hodgen Mainda. "By providing working smoke alarms to our local partners, lives will be saved and property losses can be reduced. With winter fast approaching, I urge all Tennessee residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes."
The "Get Alarmed" program relies on local fire departments and volunteers. So far, volunteers from over 530 Tennessee fire departments and civic organizations have distributed over 217,000 working smoke alarms across the Volunteer State. The program has been largely funded by FEMA grants since its inception.
Alarms designed to alert deaf and hard-of-hearing residents to residential structure fires are also available. To request one of these devices, contact your local fire department and ask about their availability.
The next "Get Alarmed" smoke alarm event will be held Saturday, Nov. 23 in conjunction with several fire departments in Cocke County. Event details are still being finalized. Volunteers who are interested in participating in the event should contact Assistant Director of Education and Outreach Baylie Scott in the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office at (615) 925-1912.
For more information on fire safety and our mission, visit tn.gov/fire.
