Chattanooga, TN – Smoke alarms save lives. They are everyone’s first line
of defense against fires. But all too often, the Chattanooga Fire
Department finds outdated and non-working smoke alarms in residents’ homes
and that’s very dangerous. It puts their property and their safety at risk.
Several times a year, the CFD does smoke alarm drives in different areas of
the city for this very reason. Our next event will be Monday, January 19,
2026 at 10AM at Chattanooga Fire Station 6 (4510 Bonny Oaks Drive).
Firefighters will be hitting the streets in different teams and going
door-to-door in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood to check smoke alarms and
install new devices as needed. Smoke alarms will also be available for
public pick-up at Station 6 from 10 AM-noon.
A smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home
and could mean the difference between life and death. Smoke alarms that are
properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths
and injuries. Fire spreads fast and working smoke alarms give you early
warning so you can get outside quickly. When working smoke alarms are
present in your home, the risk of dying in a home fire is cut by 60
percent, according to the latest research from the National Fire Protection
Association.
The Chattanooga Fire Department wants every home in the Scenic City to have
functioning smoke alarms. Cherokee Woods residents requested this smoke
alarm drive and we are happy to provide it on the National MLK Day of
Service. Our Fire Prevention Bureau, Community Outreach team, Public
Educators, command staff and others will be involved.
“Fire prevention and fire safety are at the core of our mission at the CFD,”
said Fire Marshal William Matlock. “A community smoke alarm drive is one of
the most effective ways we can protect our neighbors. By ensuring every
home has a working alarm, we’re giving families the early warning they need
to escape safely when seconds truly matter.”
Image
Image
