Firefighters conduct safety blitz of retirement village to protect seniors - Camden
Published: 31 Oct 2024 11:09am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews from Camden, in Sydney’s south-west, visited the Camden Downs retirement village this week to share life-saving fire advice to protect our seniors.
This year to date, 19 people have died in residential fires in NSW. Six of them were aged over 65.
Of the 126 people killed in residential fires across the state since 2020, at least 38 or 30 per cent were aged over 65, prompting FRNSW to step up efforts to protect those among our most vulnerable.
Pro-active visits to retirement villages and other seniors’ communities form part of FRNSW’s “Senior Fire Ed” program, educating residents about protecting themselves and their families from the dangers of fire.
Camden Fire Station Captain, Joel Kursawe, said local firefighters discussed potential hazards, emergency responses, fire safety equipment, and personalised fire safety and fire escape plans with village residents and staff during their presentations.
“Advising our seniors about fire safety in their homes is a crucial part of Fire and Rescue NSW’s Community Engagement program,” Captain Kursawe said.
“This is a great way for us to reach and engage with older people and educate them about fire risks around their home.
“Following the information session, our firefighters visited residents’ homes to identify potential fire hazards and provide them with a fire escape plan and safety tips.
“We’re here today to try to reach as many older people as possible, however we encourage anyone with older relatives or friends to book a safety visit with their local fire station.”
When it comes to home fire safety, FRNSW recommends:
- Ensuring your home is fitted with working smoke alarms
- Rolling up electric blankets instead of folding them
- Keeping materials at least a metre from the heater
- Householders keep ‘looking whilst cooking’ to prevent fires that result from distractions
- Investing in a fire blanket and storing it near the kitchen
- Smothering kitchen flames with a fire blanket, instead of putting water on it
- Keeping a fire extinguisher available nearby
Any resident, not just seniors, can book a home fire safety visit through the FRNSW website: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits [external link]
A crew will visit your home with advice and install a smoke alarm, free of charge, if necessary.
Specialist smoke alarms to assist the deaf or hard of hearing are also available for installation.
Updated: 31 Oct 2024 11:22am
Related safety topics
The leading cause of home fires in NSW is leaving cooking unattended.
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
Learn how to prevent fires from heaters and open fires.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
Stations nearby
129 Macarthur Road, Camden (Elderslie) NSW 2570
12 Exchange Parade, Smeaton Grange ( Narellan) NSW 2567
1 Southwell Road, Oran Park NSW 2570