“Sound the Alarm – Are You Ready?” Are your home’s smoke alarms in working order? - NSW
Published: 31 May 2023 12:59pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging all Australians to check their home’s smoke alarms are in working order this winter by testing the devices on Thursday 1 June, the first day of winter.
The public is being urged to jointly “Sound the Alarm” that day and test the alarm sirens in a widespread determined effort to avoid deaths and injuries during the upcoming colder months.
There were a record 16 deaths due to structure fires in NSW last winter, 12 of them have been deemed ‘preventable’ by FRNSW.
Another 87 people were injured during the 895 winter fires in 2022.
At today’s launch of the FRNSW’s Winter Fire safety Campaign, firefighters set fire to a mock bedroom at a testing ground at Londonderry, in Sydney’s west, to demonstrate how fire can destroy a typical bedroom within just three minutes.
“Working smoke alarms save lives, and sadly complacency can be deadly,” said FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter.
“If you’re not regularly checking that your smoke alarms are in working order, you’re putting your life and the lives of your loved ones at risk.
“The first day of winter is a great prompt to test your smoke alarms by pressing the button on the devices.
“If you can’t reach it use a broom, but don’t ‘leave it ‘til later,” advises Commissioner Baxter.
“If the alarm activates, your alarm is okay…if it doesn’t, replace the battery or get a new smoke alarm.
“By law, you should have working, hard-wired smoke alarms in your home. “If you’re renting and they’re not installed, speak to your landlord or real estate agency immediately.
“Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
“If they’re yellowed, they are likely out of date and leaving your household at risk.”
“Last winter, we had an unusually high number of people die,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“Simple steps can help save you, your loved ones, or your neighbours needlessly dying from fire in your home.
“Most of those deaths could have been avoided.”
NSW Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Ben Millington said it is important that people in rural and regional areas have a working smoke alarm and everyone knows what to do if there is a fire in your home.
“In rural areas, emergency services often have to travel considerable distances to respond to house fires,” Assistant Commissioner Millington said.
“Smoke alarms and a plan can give you valuable seconds to make it out alive.”
Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, has expressed concern at the number of smoke alarms within the community that haven’t been tested and are no longer working.
“If you are having trouble testing your alarms, please seek help from friends, neighbours, loved ones or your local firefighters who can also offer advice, because last winter, in almost 50 per cent of structure fires, smoke alarms either weren’t working or not even installed.” Mr Dib said.
“If we work through this together, we can avoid any more tragic deaths because what we want to see is everybody come through this winter safe and sound.
“Having a working smoke alarm, having a safe environment around home heaters and ensuring you have a home safety escape plan showing how the ways out of your home if a fire takes hold, is the best way to stay safe this winter.”
Also present at today’s launch was Manly mother-of-two, Mae Short, who escaped a house fire with her family last Winter, thanks to a working smoke alarm.
“If it wasn’t for that smoke alarm sounding, I’d hate to think where we’d be right now,” Ms Short said.
“You never expect you or your family will be impacted by fire – I certainly didn’t – but these situations really can happen to anyone.
“Please make sure you’re prepared this winter.”
You can book a home safety visit from your local fire crew at the FRNSW website: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9316 [external link]
Firefighters can discuss safety options with you and install a free smoke alarm if needed.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional b-roll footage, an interview with fire victim Mae Short, and grabs from Minister Dib is available for download here – https://vimeo.com/user/16746593/folder/16296041 [external link]
Updated: 31 May 2023 01:03pm
Related Tweets
Fire and Rescue NSW via Twitter
@FRNSW
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
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]