With cold weather well and truly settling in, residential house fires become a bigger risk in Victoria.
Don’t leave laptops and phones charging on your bed
CFA Chief Officer and CEO Steve Warrington said with increased numbers of people still working remotely, there was potential for increased fire risks in homes.
“Common causes of home fires such as from cooking, smoking, electrical items and heating could become even more prevalent as people spend more time indoors due to work and the weather,” he said.
“Kitchen fires are a major concern as many Victorians are staying at home. With more people working from home and children studying from home this term, there may be more distractions.
“Householders can keep their families and housemates safe by being aware and informed of basic fire safety in the home.”
CO/CEO Steve Warrington said every Victorian household should create a to-do list to review fire safety in their home.
“Many residential fires that result in fatalities or serious injuries start in sleeping and living areas,” he said.
“That’s why it’s critical to have a working smoke alarm in your home. Without a working smoke alarm in all living and sleeping areas of your house, you may not wake if there is a fire.”
Mr Warrington said Victorians could review their overall fire plans, including checking home offices, kitchens and bedrooms.
“Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter you should have a home fire escape plan in place. Everyone in the house needs to know what to do if a fire occurs, so the best way is to practice your plan with the whole family,” he said.
“Cooking is the largest single cause of fires and fire-related injuries in the home. Never leave cooking unattended and keep combustibles such as tea towels and paper towels away from heat sources.
“Check you’re not overloading power boards or have loose cables. Don’t ever leave electronic equipment like laptops and phones sitting or charging on beds. Appliances should be switched off when not being used, including things like electric blankets in the bedroom,” he said.
“By going through a simple list while you’re at home, you can help keep your family fire safe this winter.”
Firefighters ask all Victorian households to add these five fire safety measures to their household to-do list to reduce the risk of fire this winter.
- Check your smoke alarm monthly.
- Make sure you have a home fire escape plan in place and practice it with your whole family.
- Your home office should be set up safely. No overloaded power boards or loose cables.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Turn off all appliances, including heaters and electrical blankets, before going to bed.
Remember to visit cfa.vic,gov.au for the latest advice in preventing fires in the home and what to do in the event there is a fire.
