WITH winter almost upon us many will start to reach for their heaters to ward off cold snaps, firefighters are urging people to be aware of the fire risks inside their homes.
Home heating includes open fires, wood heaters, fixed electrical and gas-powered appliances and portable electrical heaters or those that use gas or kerosene.
It is vital for all Victorians to check their heaters to ensure they are in good working condition.
Ideally, gas heaters should be professionally serviced every two years and wood fire chimneys should be cleaned every year.
On average, there are around 3000 house fires in Victoria each year and most could be prevented by taking simple precautions.
Last year, the Country Fire Authority found that the lounge and bedroom areas were the most common room of fire ignition for incidents resulting in serious injury or death.
Poorly maintained gas heaters could also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Another dangerous mistake people make is drying clothes near heaters and fireplaces. Clothes should be kept at least one metre from the heat source.
Every household should consider their fire safety practices and examine the potential risks around their home.
Smoke alarms should be installed in all sleeping and living areas and preferably be interconnected so that if a fire starts in one room that smoke alarm will go off and also sound all other interconnected smoke alarms.
For more information on how to prevent fires in your home, visit the CFA website at https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fires-in-the-home.
