Fire Departments from Blount County and the cities of Alcoa and Maryville are joining forces on Saturday, June 9 – from 9 a.m. until noon – to educate and assist the public with their life-saving smoke alarms. The event will be held at the Blount County Public Library at 508 N Cusick Street. Personnel from all three fire departments will be on site partnering in this effort to educate adults and kids about the importance of working smoke alarms. They will also be making appointments to inspect the life-saving devices in homes and assist with installation if needed.
“Smoke alarms can be intimidating and are often forgotten, but they are the first line of defense to keep our citizens safe in the event of a fire.” Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan said. “Our primary goal is to keep our citizens safe and prevent the tragic consequences of undetected fires.”
Alcoa Fire Chief Roger Robinson said, “Not only is it important to ensure working condition, but many people are unaware that smoke alarms have a service life of ten years and should be replaced after that. There are many types of smoke alarms and guidelines about where they should be placed in the home. We can help provide peace of mind to our citizens by visiting the home and making sure the alarms are properly placed and in good working condition as well as show how to test and maintain them.”
Citizens can schedule a smoke alarm inspection visit at the June 9 event. Fire personnel will show up at the home and ensure the devices are in working condition, in the proper locations, and install new equipment as needed.
There will also be treats and activities for the kids – including Smoky the Fire Dog, fire gear to try on, and meet the fire fighters and see the fire trucks. For more information, contact the Maryville Fire Department at 865-273-3675, the Alcoa Fire Department at 865-981-4142, or the Blount County Fire Protection District at 865-983-2133.
- END–