Tennessee State Fire Marshal Says Manufactured Housing Fires Deadliest in State

Manufactured houses are the scenes of relatively few fires every year in Tennessee, but those fires are among the deadliest, causing a disproportionate number of fire-related deaths and prompting the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office to remind consumers that fire safety should be a priority in all homes, especially during the high-risk winter months.

Manufactured homes – also known as mobile homes or trailers – are transportable structures that are fixed to a chassis and specifically designed to be towed to a residential site. They are not the same as modular or prefabricated homes, which are installed on a foundation. Currently, Tennessee has more than 260,000 manufactured homes.

According to the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS), fire departments responded to 1,857 fires in manufactured homes during 2012-2016. Those fires killed 79 civilians, injured 76 civilians and 18 firefighters, and caused $29.6 million in direct property damage. State data indicates that 18 percent of Tennessee fire deaths happen in manufactured homes, even though this type of structure only makes up nine percent of Tennessee housing stock.

“Fires move quicker in smaller spaces, leaving occupants with less time to escape. This is why it is crucial to have working smoke alarms installed in all homes,” said State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Be prepared and have a plan of escape. And make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.”

While manufactured homes are no more prone to fire than homes built on site, the manufactured home fire can be severe. All residential homes can be better protected utilizing built-in fire protection systems such as fire sprinklers. These not only save lives, but property as well.

A fire in a home located in a rural area has a greater chance of becoming a “total loss fire” because of the increased amount of time needed for firefighters to reach the home. Lack of working smoke alarms is also a factor often noted in fatal manufactured home fires.

If buying or renting a manufactured home is in your future, make sure you keep fire safety in mind. By following a few tips and knowing the facts and safety requirements for manufactured homes, you can help keep your family safe.

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance