Tennesse State Fire Marshal Warns About Electrical Shocks on Cherokee Reservoir

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) has warned swimmers and boaters on Cherokee Reservoir to use an abundance of caution as investigators seek to determine the cause of four different electrical shocks that have occurred this week at private docks in the Morristown area.

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is coordinating this week with engineers from the Tennessee Valley Authority and local power provider Appalachian Electric Cooperative to determine the cause of the electrical shocks. In total, four complaints about electrical shocks have been fielded this week.

While none of the shocks resulted in severe injuries or fatalities, the SFMO is urging residents to use caution until the power source for the shocks can be determined.

“We do not yet know the cause of these electric shocks or their power source,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance deputy commissioner Gary West. “Until we can determine the power source and correct the problem, we want boaters and swimmers to be aware of the situation and use extreme caution. We will be working diligently with our partners at TVA to discover the cause and address this issue.”

The SFMO enforces electrical safety and code regulations in Tennessee.