AS WINTER BEGINS
NSW households in the Lake Macquarie and Central Coast LGAs are
being urged to check their smoke alarms as the Minns Labor
Government launches Fire and Rescue NSW’s annual ‘Winter Fire
Safety’ campaign.
As winter begins and temperatures drop, Fire and Rescue crews
typically see a 13 per cent increase in house fires compared with the
rest of the year.
From 1 June to 30 August 2024, 45 fires broke out on the Central Coast
and 19 in the Lake Macquarie district, with 29 and 68 per cent of those
homes respectively, not having working smoke alarms.
Throughout 2024 there were 3,674 home fires, killing 25 people across
NSW. In 45 per cent of these homes, there was no working smoke
alarm.
Fire and Rescue NSW continues to urge the community to remain
vigilant around the use of lithium-ion batteries this winter.
There have been 115 lithium-ion battery incidents in NSW so far this
year, with 42 related to e-bikes and e-scooters.
Devices with lithium-ion batteries should be handled with care. Always
follow safe charging, storage, and disposal practices to prevent fires,
explosions and other possible hazards.
A working smoke alarm provides the earliest and most effective warning
of a fire, giving residents the chance to get out and call triple zero (000).
Members of the public can book a free fire safety visit and have a new
smoke alarm installed all year round by visiting
www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits.
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Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“This winter the NSW Government wants to ensure households have a
working smoke alarm installed. They can give residents the crucial
seconds needed to get everyone out safely.
“In my own community of Bankstown, dozens of fires broke out in homes
last winter, and more than half of those homes didn’t have a working
smoke alarm installed.
“If you need help, our firefighters are here for you. To test a smoke alarm
please book a safety visit through the Fire and Rescue NSW website or
by calling your local fire station.”
Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:
“We had quite a few house fires in Lake Macquarie and the Central
Coast last winter, and sadly, many didn’t have working smoke alarms.
“Working smoke alarms can save lives – don’t risk it. Take a minute to
check yours or get them installed.
“If your smoke alarms are broken or missing, call your local brigade for a
free Fire Safety Visit and they’ll install them free of charge.
”
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said:
“The risk of fires in our homes increases during the colder months as we
try to stay warm and cook more hot meals.
“Keep looking when cooking – never leave cooking unattended and don’t
throw water onto a fat fire as it will intensify the flames – use a fire
blanket or extinguisher instead.”