By LIA SPENCER
A LOCAL firefighter has warned Casey residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their house.
Allan Quarrier, the Senior Station Officer and Cranboure Fire Station, advised people to buy a smoke alarm for their house or to make sure they replace their batteries on 7 April as part of the annual Change Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries campaign by Victoria’s fire services, and Durcell batteries.
A new fire safety survey has found 38 per cent of Victorian/Tasmanian family homes have only one smoke alarm installed and 28 per cent sometimes disconnect their smoke alarm or take out batteries to prevent false alarms.
The Durcell Fire Safety Survey found that 38 per cent of Victorian/Tasmanian family homes have only one smoke alarm installed but fire services recommend installation of additional smoke alarms. It also found only 31 per cent of the households know how to test the smoke alarm properly which is by pressing the button until the siren sounds, and only 29 per cent of households change smoke alarm batteries on a specific date each year.
The survey also showed many fires start in the kitchen due to accidentally leaving a cooking appliance on after preparing a family meal and doing other things while cooking including laundry, making a phone call, or using a computer in another room.
Mr Quarrier said many fires started in the kitchen or the laundry room and suggested people had an alarm outside their bedrooms or in corridors near the kitchen.
“Even though it’s mandatory (to have working smoke alarm in the house), it’s surprising how many house fires we attend and people don’t have them,” Mr Quarrier said.
“It’s not a matter of finances, but simply, people’s lives are so bust and some don’t think think of having an alarm in the house, or they don’t think a fire will ever happen to them. “
He said people’s lives could be saved for a small price.
“You can buy one under $20. It is a very good investment,” he said.
“They save lives.”
As part of the partnership, Duracell donated more than 10,000 9-volt alkaline batteries to Victoria’s fire services to help them ensure the elderly and other vulnerable people with limited support have working smoke alarms.
For more information on the recommendations for smoke alarm usage and fire escape plans, visit www.changeyourbattery.com.au.
