Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) are urging residents to take every precaution necessary to avoid a fire in the home.
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It comes as cold weather sets in and heaters, electric blankets and fire places are turned on for the first time this year.
The message is clear: keep things a metre from the heater and protect yourself and your family from fire.
Port Macquarie Fire Station officer Dawn Maynard had several tips for people in the Hastings.
"A fire can happen to anyone. People have to make sure they have a working smoke alarm, which is very important," she said.
"As all of the heaters start coming out we have a saying: keep things a metre from the heater.
"People like to dry clothes and put them close to the bed, which is not the right thing to do. Watch your electric blankets often and ensure there are no kinks in any wires."
FRNSW Community Safety and Research Chief Superintendent Mick Morris said the cooler months see a 10 per cent increase in the number of home fires, with more fires in bedrooms and lounge rooms due to heaters, electric blankets, and the like.
“Don’t put yourself or your family at risk. We want to remind people to be careful when using heaters," he said.
There are a number of other simple steps you can take to prepare your home against the risk of fire this winter:
- Turn off heaters and electric blankets before leaving home or getting into bed
- Clean lint filters in the clothes dryer before or after each use
- Don’t overload powerboards
- Keep candles away from curtains and put them out before leaving the room
- Don’t use LPG cylinders for cooking or heating indoors as they can leak and the gas is both toxic and highly explosive.
- Ensure you have a working smoke alarm
Chf Supt Morris said residents should also ‘keep looking when cooking’ to avoid kitchen fire catastrophes.
“Kitchen fires account for 45 per cent of all residential fires and 34 per cent of injuries in NSW," he said.
"Flames or heat sources being left unattended are the most common cause contributing to kitchen fires. It can take just three minutes for a fire to take hold, but only seconds to prevent one."