As the weather starts getting colder and we look to try and keep warm during the winter months, Wellington residents are urged to take precaution to avoid a fire in their home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Each year Fire and Rescue NSW attends approximately 4500 residential fires across the state with approximately 30 per cent of them occurring in winter months, and 47 per cent of fires starting in the kitchen.
NSW RFS Wellington east group captain Michael Lyons said most of the time using common sense helps prevent fires.
But he also encouraged residents to check smoke alarms and to make sure their chimney flutes are clean.
"The other thing that people really need to do, if they are burning, they're required by law, even though we're outside the fire permit times, to alert the RFS," he said.
FRNSW Community Safety and Research Chief Superintendent Mick Morris said the cooler months see a 10 per cent increase in the number of home fires, with more fires in bedrooms and loungerooms due to heaters, electric blankets, and the like.
"Don't put yourself or your family at risk. We want to remind people to be careful when using heaters and to keep everything in the house 'a metre from the heater'," he said.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
There are a number of other simple steps people can take to prepare their home against the risk of fire this winter which include:
- Turn off heaters and electric blankets before leaving home or getting into bed.
- Clean lint filters in the clothes dryer before or after each use.
- Don't overload powerboards.
- Keep candles away from curtains and put them out before leaving the room.
- Don't use LPG cylinders for cooking or heating indoors as they can leak and the gas is both toxic and highly explosive.
The local RFS group captain said they respond to all sorts of incidents, not just fires.
