MFRD reminds residents to practice fire safety during Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week 2026 is underway, and the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) is encouraging residents to take simple steps to reduce fire risk in their homes.

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses on lithium-ion battery safety and the everyday devices that use them, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-bikes, scooters, and power tools.

Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices people use every day, but damaged batteries and improper charging can cause batteries to overheat and potentially start a fire.

“Lithium-ion batteries are part of our everyday lives, and most of us probably have several devices powered by them in our homes right now,” MFRD Fire Marshal Brian Lowe said. “We want people to understand that something as simple as using the correct charger,
charging on a hard, flat surface, and unplugging a device when it is fully charged can help reduce the risk of a fire. Fire prevention really starts with the choices we make every day.”

MFRD encourages residents to practice safe charging habits. Charge devices on a hard, flat surface rather than on beds, couches, pillows, or other soft surfaces that can trap heat. Use the cord and charger that came with the device or one approved by the manufacturer,
and unplug devices once they are fully charged. Stop using a device if the battery becomes unusually hot, begins to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds.

Fire Prevention Week is also an opportunity for families to review other important fire safety practices.

Residents should test smoke alarms monthly and replace alarms that are more than 10 years old. Families should also create and practice a home fire escape plan, identify two ways out of every room when possible, and establish a designated meeting place outside.

Cooking remains another important area of fire prevention. Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or cooking on the stovetop, and keep anything that can burn away from cooking and other heat sources.

As temperatures begin to drop, residents should have heating equipment and furnaces checked and make sure they are operating safely. Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and should be plugged directly into a wall outlet,

not an extension cord or power strip.

“Working smoke alarms, a practiced escape plan and good fire safety habits can make a life-saving difference,” Lowe said. “We encourage families to use Fire Prevention Week as a reminder to look around their homes, identify potential hazards and make fire safety a priority throughout the year.”