Preventing Home Fires: Essential Tips from Victorian Fire Authority
Each year, approximately 3000 house fires occur across the state, which can be mitigated by following these simple safety tips.
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The kitchen is the most common place where fires start, often due to unattended cooking, electrical faults, or flammable items like paper towels and curtains being too close to heat sources. If a cooking area is not kept clean, a fire that starts on the stove can quickly spread to built-up grease and fat, potentially reaching the roof and the rest of the house.
A significant number of fatal fires start in bedrooms or lounge areas, usually due to improper use of electrical appliances or home heating. These appliances include power supplies, fixed or portable appliances, power boards, and extension leads.
During colder months, the use of heating appliances, both gas and electric, increases. If a portable heater is used in a bedroom, it should be kept well away from flammable materials like clothing, bedding, and curtains and switched off when not in use. Clothes drying in front of a heater should be kept at least a meter away to prevent combustion.
Powerboards, while increasingly common, should only be used temporarily. They can only take a limited number of devices, so only one device per outlet is recommended. Double adapters or extra power boards should not be plugged into a power board, and high-powered appliances like heaters should not be plugged into a power board or extension lead, as it can cause overheating and start a fire.
Here are some top home fire safety tips:
- Have a licensed gas-fitter inspect your gas heater
- Check chimneys, flues, and fire boxes for cracks, rust, and debris
- Check electric blankets for kinks in the wiring
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use
- Check appliances for visibly frayed or damaged wiring
- Complete a Home Fire Safety Checklist
- Prepare a home fire escape plan and practice it regularly
In case of a fire, families who are well-prepared are more likely to escape safely and without panic. The plan should include the two quickest ways out of every room, an agreed-upon meeting place outside, and how to call emergency services.
Top survival tips for when a fire occurs include: stopping, dropping, and rolling if your clothes catch fire; staying low to avoid smoke; checking doors for heat before opening; closing doors to slow the spread of fire and smoke; alerting others as you exit; meeting at a safe place; and calling emergency services from a safe location.
Parents should be aware that children are less likely to wake up to the sound of a smoke alarm. Fire drills should be practiced twice a year, especially with younger children. Deadlocks should not be locked when you’re at home, as they could block escape routes during a fire. If deadlocks must be locked, keys should be left in the door.
For more information, visit https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fires-in-the-home.
