Fire safety a major concern in winter
Mon 19 May 2008
Adina Rathmanner, BA Journalism
There are more fire-related call outs during the winter months than at any other time the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) says.
With the recent chilly nights many people on the Sunshine Coast are turning to heaters, electric blankets and woodstoves to keep warm.
But a report by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority says “accidents involving heaters were one of the major causes of winter fires”.
QFRS Community Liason Officer Neil Kaminski says the QFRS has found that recent building fires show safety precautions are the most effective way of ensuring the public stays safe and personal property is not damaged or destroyed by fire.
One of the most important things that can be done around the home and property to deal with or avoid any fire situation is to make sure a working smoke alarm is installed, the QFRS says.
Mr Kaminski says smoke alarms are required by law to be fitted in every residential home in Queensland, but the QFRS is still running a major campaign to make the community more aware of the necessity of working smoke alarms.
“Change Your Battery is conducted on April Fool's Day each year to remind the community of the need to maintain and fit new batteries in their smoke alarms,” Mr Kaminski said.
QFRS also runs a program called “Safehome” through which firefighters go to residential premises by invitation to fit smoke alarms and devise an escape plan, he said.
But still each year people continue to die in what the Australian Government funded group Health Insite says are mostly accidental and preventable fires.
The QFRS Fire Fatalities: Who’s at Risk report identified the time between midnight and 8am as when most fire fatalities happened.
This is because when you sleep your sense of smell is dormant so people may miss the early signs of a fire, the QFRS says.
The smoke alarm industry booklet says the risk of death from fire is three times higher in homes without smoke alarms when compared with homes with smoke alarms.
It also says that in Queensland between 1997 and 2005, 78 per cent of all fire deaths occurred in homes without smoke alarms and between June 1997 and July 2005 the QFRS attended 321 house fires where smoke alarms were installed but not working because batteries were removed or flat.
The absence of a working smoke detector has led to 15 deaths, including four children, in house fires between January 2004 and June 2005 in Queensland alone, the booklet says.
Mr Kaminski says there are a few simple precautions the public should take while trying to keep warm as the weather gets colder.
“Every household should take a few minutes to ensure their home is safe. It is important to keep your gutters and yard clear of rubbish and leaves to reduce the risk of fire during all seasons. Keeping a hose handy is also a good idea,” he says.
Heating Safety tips
- Heaters need space. Keep heaters at least one metre from clothes, bedding, furniture, curtains and other combustible material.
- Check that walls and floors are insulated from heat sources.
- Clothing should not be dried close to a fireplace or heater.
- Heating appliances should be cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
Electrical heating appliances
- Be careful where you place electrical heaters.
- Do not place extension cords under a carpet or floor mat.
- Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas.
- Choose a portable heater that has an automatic safety switch that will turn the appliance off if it is overturned.
- Electric blankets should be checked each year prior to use.
- Ensure all electrical cords are not damaged or the cord frayed. If they are - replace them.
- Heating equipment should be installed by a qualified tradesperson if necessary, in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
- Only purchase approved heating devices which are clearly marked with the Australian Standards symbol.
- Ensure heaters have a tumble switch fitted - this switch cuts the power when the heater is overturned.
Fireplaces
- Have your chimney cleaned regularly.
- Check chimney walls for signs of weakening and cracks.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Never leave children or pets unsupervised near an open fire or slow combustion heater.
- Burn seasoned hardwood and use dry timber to reduce smoke.
- Always use a fire screen in front of open fires to stop sparks and prevent logs from rolling out.
- Never leave an open fire alight when you leave the house or go to bed.
- Extinguish flames and embers completely and ensure that embers are cold before discarding.
Slow combustion stoves
- Operate slow combustion fires in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
- Have your chimney and flue cleaned regularly to avoid a build up of flammable material and to ensure that the heater functions correctly.
Kerosene heaters
- Clean the heater in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.
- Move the heater outside for cleaning and refuelling.
- Refuel outside in a well-ventilated area.
- Never use flammable liquids around the heater flame.
- Use only the approved fuel specified by the manufacturer.
Image(s) designed by Adina Rathmanner
Enter comments about this article
Submitted Comments
Very useful information. Hopefully people heed the warning. Well done Adina
Stefanie
Know first hand about the consequences of not having checked the smoke-alarm. - Never again! Well writen article.
Margaret Finsh