Sevier County Offers Fall Fire Safety Tips

The Sevier County Fire Administration Office reminds you as temperatures drop and winter nears, take precautions to help prevent fires.

Fire Safety Tips for the Home

• In a fire, call 911 – get out, close the door, and don’t go back in.
• Practice your escape plan.
• Change your SMOKE ALARM batteries twice a year as the time changes.
• Ensure your address is visible from the roadway and both directions of travel. Reflective address signs are available for purchase by calling 865-774-3603 or dpuckett@seviercountytn.gov.
• Don’t leave candles burning unattended or within reach of children or pets.
• Sleep with doors closed; in the event of a fire, it buys you time to get out.

• Ensure escape ladders are in place for areas of the home that are above ground level.
• Check your fire extinguisher. https://youtu.be/BLjoWjCrDqg

Heating

• Have chimneys and fireboxes cleaned and inspected before use each season.
• Check electric heaters to ensure cords are not worn or damaged. The use of extension cords with heaters can result in overloading or creating short circuits.
• Dispose of hot or smoldering ash appropriately.
• Keep all flammable/combustible materials away from heat sources.
• Refrain from the use of candles for heating.
• Do not use gas heaters designed for exterior use indoors.

Cooking

• NEVER apply water to grease fires. https://youtu.be/JfIRx764-88
• Keep BC or K extinguishers available while cooking.
• Remember to turn the stove off when not in use.  Don’t allow pot handles to stick out beyond the front of stoves. Never set combustibles on top of the stove, even temporarily. https://youtu.be/946coF10rgY
• When using a portable deep (turkey) fryer, operate outdoors and ensure food products are dry (not frozen with ice attached) before submerging. https://youtu.be/7gn895y4wkc
• Grill only in designated areas and never leave a grill unattended when in use.

Decorations and Lighting Safety

• As holidays approach, take into consideration your decorations materials. If necessary, use fire retardant spray to treat decorations before use and only use away from heat sources.
• Live Christmas trees are beautiful but can be extremely flammable as they dry. Ensure proper hydration and keep away from heat sources. https://youtu.be/xr6b9b8FYKk
• When using lit decorations, be sure to not overload circuitry or alter the design. Use only according to manufactory recommendations.

CO Safety

• Never allow vehicles to warn up inside garages.
• Ensure CO alarms are in place and operational where gas appliances are in use.
• Never run generators or CO emitting engines indoors.

Outdoor Fire Safety

• Keep leaf litter and debris clear from around and on the roof of the home.
• Keep water hoses handy during dry seasons.
• Store firewood, propane tanks, and other combustibles away from structures.
• Position vehicles in a way that you can leave in the event of an emergency.
• Only burn debris using safe practices after obtaining a permit. For burning permits or debris burning regulations, visit Burnsafetn.org. Permits are required outside the cities from October 15 through May 15. For burn permits inside city limits, contact that city fire department daily before burning for a permit. Current or expected weather conditions can result in the denial of a permit.

For additional information or to request a smoke alarm, please contact your local fire department or the Sevier County Fire Administrator by calling 865- 774-3603 or emailing dpuckett@seviercountytn.gov.

Photo: Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department https://sevierfire.org/