NASHVILLE, TN – The Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division and the Madison County Sheriff’s office have joined forces to promote identity theft awareness. The two agencies will host a free shredding event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, October 20, at the Jackson Fairgrounds Park, 800 South Highland Avenue.

“This event enables consumers to safely shred and dispose of their outdated, private records,” TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “The participation of the Madison County Sheriff’s office speaks to the impact of identity theft.”

-TDA’s Division of Forestry begins requiring burn permits Oct. 15-

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Fire Prevention are observing National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13), by reminding homeowners to follow simple safety practices to prevent forest fires. The official start of forest fire season in Tennessee is Oct. 15.

“Burning vegetative material that has accumulated around the yard or using fire to clear an old field can be an efficient way to get rid of debris,” said John Kirksey, Fire Chief for the Division of Forestry. “However, this activity needs to be done safely. The division’s burn permitting system focuses attention on the safe use of fire for debris burning.”

Activities requiring a burning permit include unconfined outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste and burning to clear land. Burning permits are free of charge. Citizens can apply for burning permits online or by calling their local Division of Forestry office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Forestry offices are listed in your local phone directory under state government, or can be found by visiting www.burnsafetn.org. The website also includes tips for safe debris burning and provides access to the online permitting system. Permit holders should also check for other restrictions in their locale.

NASHVILLE, TN – If you woke up to a fire in your home, how much time do you think you would have to get to safety? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. Unfortunately, the time available is often less.
 
That’s why the State Fire Marshal’s Office and local fire departments across Tennessee are teaming up with NFPA during Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012, to urge residents to “Have Two Ways Out!” This year’s theme focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.
 

NASHVILLE, TN – The Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division and the Davidson County Sheriff’s office have joined forces to promote identity theft awareness. The two agencies host a free shredding event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Lot D at LP Field, One Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213.   

“This event enables consumers to safely shred and dispose of their outdated, private records,” TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “The participation of the Davidson County Sheriff’s office speaks to the impact of identity theft.”

NASHVILLE, TN – October is Fire Prevention Month, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is launching an effort to help local communities learn and address the factors that too frequently contribute to fires that take the lives of Tennesseans.
 
“To kick off Fire Prevention Month, our Fire Prevention Division will host a free fire safety education event from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Friday, October 5, at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park,” Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak said.

NASHVILLE, TN – The presence of portable, medical oxygen in the home has grown over the past decade, and so has the need for education about the fire hazards associated with its use. Medical oxygen adds a higher percentage of oxygen to the air a patient uses to breathe. Fire needs oxygen to burn. If a fire should start in an oxygen-enriched area, the material burning will burn more quickly.

“When more oxygen is present, any fire that starts will burn hotter and faster than usual,” State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak says. “It is crucial to follow safety precautions when medical oxygen is in use in a home.”

NASHVILLE, TN – In recent months, some property and casualty insurers in Tennessee have filed to expand or shift their roofing policy terms to include actual cash value policies. As a result, the Department of Commerce and Insurance is reaching out to consumers to help them understand the difference in coverage.

1.    Actual Cash Value (ACV) policies pay consumers for replacement costs minus any applicable depreciation.  Depreciation can be thought of as “wear and tear” or age.

2.    Replacement Cost policies pay consumers for what the damaged/destroyed item or structure would cost in today’s dollars. These policies do not account for any wear and tear or for the age of the item.

Kids’ poster contest, firefighters’ challenge precede Oct. Capitol Mall event

NASHVILLE, TN – October is Fire Prevention Month, but the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is gearing up early with fire safety-themed events throughout September.

Activities begin with the SFMO’s Annual Poster Contest, which is under way. State officials and local fire departments across Tennessee will be promoting participation in the fire prevention poster contest. Community school children across Tennessee will be creating posters based on the national fire prevention theme of the year: “Have 2 Ways Out.”

Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Regulatory Boards issue a disciplinary actions report each month. Each board and commission is empowered by statute to take disciplinary action, including revocation of licenses and assignment of civil penalties, against license holders found to have violated laws governing their professions.

The reports (archived at http://1.usa.gov/zofWtO) and Commerce and Insurance’s regulatory board licensing database, verify.tn.gov, can be useful tools for Tennesseans looking to do business with licensed professionals.

Nashville, TN – “Congratulations! You are our $100 million sweepstakes winner!” Sound familiar? Scams like this circulate daily. Their goal is to get your money or personal information.