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Community

11 April, 2024

Deaths prompt plea for smoke detector checks

FIREFIGHTERS have urged Victorians to test their smoke alarms after concerning new data revealed 14 people died in preventable house fires last year.


Safety plea: Firefighters have urged the community to check smoke alarms after new data revealed preventable house fires claimed 14 lives in 2023.
Safety plea: Firefighters have urged the community to check smoke alarms after new data revealed preventable house fires claimed 14 lives in 2023.

Discarded smoking materials, lighters and matches were the most frequent cause of the fires, resulting in five incidents and seven deaths.

There were 11 single fatality incidents and one incident which resulted in the deaths of three people.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) have urged Victorians to make it a priority to check their smoke alarms.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan sais it’s essential families were conducting monthly testing of their smoke alarms to keep their loved ones safe.

“The number of fatalities in the last year is very alarming and devastating to know they could have been prevented,” he said.

“In the past 10 years, CFA have responded to more than 13,000 residential fires that have seen more than 330 casualties.

“The best way to keep your family safe is to install interconnected smoke alarms, so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound, allowing you to evacuate early.

“We recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year lithium battery to ensure their longevity.”

FRV deputy commissioner community safety Joshua Fischer said every fire fatality was a tragedy.

“This heartbreaking data reveals that in the past year, 14 people’s lives were tragically cut short in incidents that could have been prevented,” he said.

“The best way to protect yourself and your family from fire is by installing smoke alarms in all bedrooms, living areas, hallways and garages and to test that they are working.

“When you sleep you lose your sense of smell, and smoke will put you into a deeper sleep, rendering you unconscious.

“Only a working smoke alarm will wake you up and give you time to escape.”

When checking, installing, or replacing your smoke alarms, CFA and FRV recommend 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 also be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or dusted at least once a year to remove particles which would affect smoke alarm performance.

Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly, but 10-year lithium batteries were recommended.

Smoke alarms, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced every 10 years.

To check a smoke alarm press ‘test’ and wait for the beeping sound, then each month continue to test, vacuum, and dust the alarm to remove any particles that may affect its performance.

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