By Violet Li
A Cranbourne father who saved his daughter when a fire broke out in their family home is calling on Victorians to fit smoke alarms in all bedrooms and have a thorough fire plan.
The call comes as the latest figures show that between May 2024 and May 2025, FRV and CFA responded to more than 1,880 residential fires across Victoria, while 18 people died in preventable house fires during 2024.
Most fatal fires and those that cause serious injuries occur in bedrooms and living areas, however, FRV and CFA’s most recent survey of Victorians revealed just 17 per cent of Victorians are protected by smoke alarms in their bedrooms.
On a cold August night last year, Michael Vamplew and his partner Ashlea woke to hear their two-year-old daughter Harlow screaming for help, after a fire took hold in her bedroom when her bed linen was ignited by a charging adapter plugged into a power board.
“It was either the power board or it was the adapter that caught fire. Nothing was actually plugged into the adapter, though,” Michael said.
Michael recalled that once he got around the corner to Harlow’s bedroom, he saw big black smoke rolling at the bottom of the door. The smoke alarms hadn’t triggered at the time because the door was closed.
“As I got to the door, I knew we were in trouble. I just thought if today’s the day that I die, so be it. But I’m not going into that room and leaving without her,” Michael said.
“Today is the day that God makes me go to seek him. I’m okay with that. I was okay with dying. I wasn’t going into that room empty-handed and walking out empty-handed.”
The whole room was engulfed in flames.
“If there was a smoke alarm in the bedroom, it would have picked up the initial smoke before there was such a large fire,” he said.
In line with the family’s home fire escape plan, while Michael got Harlow to safety, Ashlea helped to evacuate the other children and contacted the authorities, with FRV and CFA arriving to tackle the blaze. Harlow was treated for third-degree burns to her feet.
Before the fire, the Vamplews had three interlinked smoke alarms, one outside of each bedroom. Now, they have eight ones installed outside and inside the bedrooms.
When one alarm activates, all will now sound.
Michael said it was an “extremely traumatic” experience for Harlow.
“There were nights when my daughter would sweat profusely and relive that moment,” he said.
“The hardest thing was she’d wake up constantly for the next six months, like, every hour. And it was like she would go from zero to 1000 in fight mode.
“It was like her default mechanism automatically got reset to fight mode, protective mode. Whether it be just throwing a tantrum, she wouldn’t get a buildup as most children do. She’d be snapping at breaking point because she goes through that traumatic stage again.
“I guess for us, it was just learning how to deal with those cues and learning how to deal with them to best support her, also reassuring her that this is we’re in a safe space and just creating a really loving and supportive environment for her to live.”
The Vamplews are now trying their best to raise awareness for home fire safety and preparedness.
“I think there needs to be a discussion of a fire plan in general, and not just a case of you getting out of here, this is our meeting point, I think it should be a case of what your roles are,” Michael said.
“I think that smoke alarm standards and laws need to be changed, obviously, to include installing smoke alarms in bedrooms. They need to be interconnected. If one goes off, they all go off.
“I also believe that not many people are made aware that smoke alarms expire after ten years of service. That label that says that should be in big, bold letters on the front of all packaging when you buy one. I’m a nonsmoker, and I know the effects of cigarette smoking based on branding and imaging because it has to be publicised on the front of cigarettes. Why don’t we have this same sort of branding laws for smoke alarm safety?
“I think there’s a lot of work there that needs to be actioned. But I don’t think the government will take action anytime soon. I’m urging all Victorians not to wait for legislation but to act on something.”
FRV deputy commissioner, Community Safety, Joshua Fischer hopes the Vamplew family’s lucky escape sends a strong message to all Victorians.
“What happened to the Vamplew family clearly demonstrates why it is so vital to have smoke alarms fitted in every bedroom of your home,” he said.
CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook hoped residents would feel prompted to reevaluate the placement and condition of their smoke alarms.
“We know fire risk is greatest when you are asleep, because we can lose our sense of smell. Without a working smoke alarm in your bedroom, your family may not wake up in time to safely escape,” he said.
When checking, installing, or replacing your smoke alarms, FRV and CFA advise:
● Only working smoke alarms save lives.
● Smoke alarms should also be installed in every bedroom and living area.
● Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house and on each level.
● Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall or installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
● Smoke alarms should be interconnected, so when any alarm is activated, all smoke alarms will sound.
● Fire services recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year long-life battery.
● Smoke alarms should be tested monthly by pressing the test button on the alarm and waiting for the test alarm to sound.
● Smoke alarms should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or dusted at least once a year to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
● Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
● Smoke alarms, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced every 10 years
● For more information, go to: vic.gov.au/smoke-alarms
