GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Bitterly cold temperatures are forecasted for this upcoming weekend and the Gatlinburg Fire Department is reminding residents and visitors to take extra precautions to prevent home heating fires and carbon monoxide incidents during extreme winter weather.
The National Weather Service in Morristown has forecasted a low temperature under 20 degrees overnight Friday (January 30) into Saturday (January 31) morning and in the single digits overnight Saturday (January 31) into Sunday (February 1) morning.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, home fires occur more frequently in winter than in any other season, with nearly half of all home heating fires happening during December, January, and February. Heating equipment is involved in approximately one out of every six home fires and one out of every five home fire deaths, making proper heating safety especially critical during periods of prolonged cold.
“As temperatures drop, people rely more heavily on space heaters, fireplaces, and other heating sources, which significantly increases the risk of fire if they’re not used correctly,” said Gatlinburg Fire Chief David Gray. “We want everyone to stay warm, but we also want them to stay safe. Most winter fires are preventable by following basic safety practices.”
Fire officials stress the importance of keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, and space heaters. Only one heat-producing appliance should be plugged into an electrical outlet at a time, and space heaters should always be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep. Fireplaces and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional to reduce the risk of chimney fires.
Carbon monoxide safety is also a major concern during cold weather. The Gatlinburg Fire Department urges residents to install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their homes and test them at least once a month. Portable generators should always be used outdoors, kept far away from windows and doors, and never operated inside homes or garages. Fire officials also remind residents to store cooled fireplace ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside at least ten feet away from buildings
In addition, residents are encouraged to avoid using ovens, stovetops, grills, or outdoor heaters to warm their homes, and to use caution with candles by never leaving them unattended. Checking on elderly neighbors, family members, and those with limited mobility during extreme cold is also strongly encouraged.
If a fire occurs or smoke is detected, residents should leave immediately and call 911 from a safe location.
The Gatlinburg Fire Department will supply and install a free smoke alarm through the “Get Alarmed, Tennessee” smoke alarm program in non-commercial residences in its coverage area. Eligible residents that can receive a free smoke alarm are those who do not have working smoke alarms installed or smoke alarms that are older than 10 years. Gatlinburg Fire Department personnel must install these alarms.
For the latest updates from the City of Gatlinburg, visit GatlinburgTN.gov or visit the City’s Social Media pages on Facebook and X. Individuals can also keep up with the latest from the City of Gatlinburg by downloading the City’s Mobile App on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by searching for “City of Gatlinburg”
###