![\"Tennessee](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Tennessee-State-Fire-Marshal-200x184.jpg\" "\\"Tennessee")
Nashville, TN<\/strong> – As wildfires claim lives and destroy properties in northern and southern California, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal\u2019s Office (SFMO) extends its sympathies to the victims of the disasters and reminds Tennessee residents to always follow safety precautions during outdoor burns.<\/p>\nBy not following safety precautions, wildfires can occur, wrecking property, destroying wildlife, and putting lives at risk. In the last five years (2013-17), Tennessee state fire department records show 3,141 unintentional fires resulted from outdoor burning and created over $2.8 million in property losses.<\/p>\n
![\"Burn](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Tennessee-State-Forester-Urges-Citizens-to-Practice-Safe-Debris-Burning.jpg\" "\\"Burn")
<\/a>Burn permits required October 15th-May 15th.<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cI extend my condolences to the victims of the California wildfires and urge Tennesseans to always take safety precautions to help ensure their outdoor burns don\u2019t turn into potentially dangerous situations,\u201d said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. \u201cIt only takes one floating ember to put people and property in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unless otherwise covered by local ordinances, free burn permits<\/a> are required across Tennessee through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture from October 15th through May 15th. Residents should check with their city and county government for any additional local restrictions. (Please note: Permits will not be issued on days and in locations if it is considered unsafe to conduct a debris burn.)<\/p>\n To help keep Tennessee fire safe, the SFMO shares the following outdoor burning tips with residents:<\/p>\n For more tips on being fire safe, visit tn.gov\/fire<\/a> and burnsafetn.org<\/a>. If you are interested in helping the victims of the California wildfires, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has created a webpage<\/a> detailing volunteer and donation opportunities.<\/p>\n The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) protects the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the State Fire Marshal\u2019s Office, Insurance, Securities, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Regulatory Boards, Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, Tennessee Corrections Institute, and TennCare Oversight.<\/p>\n\n
About the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance<\/h3>\n