Fire chief credits recently installed smoke detectors with saving woman’s life

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A West Tennessee woman is treated for second- and third-degree burns to her hands and face.

Firefighters said she’s alive because of recently installed smoke alarms as part of the statewide “Get Alarmed” program.

“We’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the number of fires we’re having, and we want to contribute that statistic to this smoke alarms program,” Henderson County Fire Chief Lynn Murphy said.

Chief Murphy said on April 18, he installed three smoke detectors at the mobile home on Longsought Road.

Prior to that, the home did not have working detectors. Fast forward two weeks later, and Chief Murphy credits the detectors with saving the woman’s life.

“In this program, that was the first confirmed life that was saved,” he said.

Murphy keeps the only remaining alarm to survive the fire in his office. “As a reminder to us that in this program that was the first confirmed life that was saved.”

Since mid-April, the county fire department has installed 96 free detectors.

Chief Murphy said before the dozen he installed Tuesday at four different homes, none of the homes had up-to-date or working alarms.

As part of “Get Alarmed,” participating fire department are given 100 alarms at a time to install. Murphy said he has about 50 ready to go right now.

The woman, who lived alone at the time of the fire on Longsought Road, is recovering in a Memphis burn center.

As of Tuesday evening, she was listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

If you would like to request smoke detectors for your home, call the Henderson County Fire Department at 731-968-4153.