The first chilly nights of fall are when many East Tennessee homeowners switch on the furnace, light the first fire of the season, or pull a space heater out of the closet. Tennessee’s State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) says that is the start of the riskiest stretch of the year: in its most recent winter safety release, the office calls winter Tennessee’s most dangerous season for residential structure fires and says fire departments report a 70% increase in home fire deaths during winter compared with other seasons.
Here is what the SFMO recommends, and a short checklist for your homeowners or renters policy before the cold settles in.
What the State Fire Marshal’s numbers show
- Winter is the state’s most dangerous season for residential structure fires.
- Fire departments report a 70% increase in home fire deaths during winter compared with other seasons.
- Smoking and cooking account for more than 21% of the known causes of residential structure fires in Tennessee.
- More than 12% of residential structure fires that resulted in a death were caused by smoking.
Heating safety steps from the SFMO
- Keep blankets, rugs, furniture, and other flammable items at least three feet from space heaters and wood stoves.
- Turn portable heaters off when you leave a room or go to bed.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected every year.
- Burn only dry, seasoned wood, and never burn garbage or use flammable liquids to start a fire.
- Vent all fuel-burning equipment to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- If you smell gas from a gas heater, do not light it. Leave the house and call your local fire department or gas company.
Free smoke alarms through Get Alarmed, Tennessee!
The SFMO’s free smoke alarm program has installed more than 290,000 smoke alarms since it began in 2012, with 510 verified saves, according to the office. Ask your local fire department whether it participates, or request an alarm through the state fire marshal’s website. Test the alarms you already have before heating season starts.
For more on fire risks inside the home, including charging devices safely, see Tennessee marks Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4–10 with a focus on safe battery charging at home.
A pre-season checklist for your homeowners policy
- Dwelling limit. Ask whether your dwelling coverage still reflects what it would cost to rebuild today, not what you paid for the house.
- Personal property. A quick video walk-through of every room, saved somewhere other than the house, makes a contents claim far easier.
- Loss of use. Find the limit for additional living expenses on your declarations page so you know what is there if a fire forces you out.
- Deductible. Know your deductible before you need it. Background: Understanding Home Insurance Deductibles in Tennessee: How to Choose the Right Amount and Avoid Costly Surprises.
- Wood stoves and fireplaces. If you added one, tell your agent. Ask how your policy treats it rather than assuming.
If the worst happens, these guides walk through next steps: How to File a Home Insurance Claim in Tennessee: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026 and TDCI’s CLUE explainer says Tennesseans can pull seven years of home and auto claims history for free. For cold-weather claim tips more broadly, see TDCI’s Winter Storm Fern tips tell Tennesseans how to file claims, check contractors, and run generators safely.
Related reading from All Seasons
- Tennessee marks Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4–10 with a focus on safe battery charging at home.
- How to File a Home Insurance Claim in Tennessee: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
- TDCI’s CLUE explainer says Tennesseans can pull seven years of home and auto claims history for free.
- Understanding Home Insurance Deductibles in Tennessee: How to Choose the Right Amount and Avoid Costly Surprises
- TDCI’s Winter Storm Fern tips tell Tennesseans how to file claims, check contractors, and run generators safely.
Free policy review
All Seasons Insurance Group offers a free personal policy review. Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. This article is informational only and does not promise coverage or eligibility; your policy forms control. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
Why is winter the most dangerous season for home fires in Tennessee?
The State Fire Marshal's Office says winter is Tennessee's most dangerous season for residential structure fires, and fire departments report a 70% increase in home fire deaths during winter compared with other seasons.
What are the leading known causes of home fires in Tennessee?
The SFMO says smoking and cooking account for more than 21% of known causes of residential structure fires in Tennessee, and more than 12% of fatal residential fires were caused by smoking.
How far should a space heater be from furniture?
The SFMO advises keeping blankets, rugs, furniture, and other flammable items at least three feet from space heaters and wood stoves.
How often should I have my chimney inspected?
The SFMO advises having heating equipment and chimneys inspected every year.
What should I do if I smell gas from my heater?
Do not light the appliance. Leave your home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company.
How do I get a free smoke alarm in Tennessee?
Ask your local fire department whether it participates in the SFMO's Get Alarmed, Tennessee! program, or request one online. The SFMO says the program has installed more than 290,000 smoke alarms since 2012, with 510 verified saves.
What should I check on my homeowners policy before winter?
Review your dwelling limit, personal property, loss-of-use limit, and deductible, and tell your agent about any new wood stove or fireplace. Your policy forms control what is covered.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. Informational only; no coverage promises. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
