With most of the Volunteer State experiencing frigid temperatures this week, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents that decreasing temperatures bring an increased risk for fires and fire deaths.
When temperatures drop below 15 degrees F, structure fires are twice as likely to occur than when temperatures remain above 32 degrees F, according to state fire data and information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For this reason, January and February are consistently the deadliest months of the year for accidental residential structure fire deaths in Tennessee.
Officials say by taking a few simple precautions now such as checking your smoke alarms to ensure they’re working and having a fire escape plan, Tennesseans can help keep their families be fire-safe all winter.
To help combat fire dangers associated with winter weather, the State Fire Marshal’s Office suggests that you keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like fireplaces, wood stoves, and portable space heaters, never use your oven to heat your home and turn off portable heaters before leaving home or going to bed.