Category: Home Fire Safety

Home fire safety tips by Upwey CFA

Categories
Home Fire Safety

Smoke Alarm Reminder

smoke alarm
smoke alarm

Smoke Alarm Reminder

When did you last test your smoke alarms?

When you are asleep you lose your sense of smell. A smoke alarm is your electronic nose. It will alert you if there is smoke from a fire.

A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in just two to three minutes.

Only a working smoke alarm will provide you with early warning and time to escape.

CFA recommends you regularly test and maintain your smoke alarms.

3 Easy Steps To Maintain Your Smoke Alarm In Working Order.

smoke alarm

1. TEST your smoke alarm MONTHLY

Press and hold the test button to check the alarm sounds.

2. DUST your smoke alarm ANNUALLY

Dust the alarm to ensure the vents are not obstructed.

3. CHANGE the battery ANNUALLY

Replace the 9V battery each year.  Modern alarms have lithium batteries that can last 10 years.

Click for the Where, Why And What About Smoke Alarms
Categories
Home Fire Safety

Clothes Drying Reminder

A meter from the heater

Reminder About Drying Clothes Inside

Remember 1 Metre From The Heater

With the cooler season now upon us, it’s a timely reminder many house fires each year are caused by clothes being too close to a heater, especially when left to dry over night.

Radiant heat from your heater can not only dry your clothes but it can also heat them to a point where they catch fire.

When drying clothes in front of a heater always remember the simple rule to keep them “A Metre From The Heater“.

Don’t forget to make sure your smoke alarms are working by  regularly testing and cleaning them.  More about smoke alarms.

A meter from the heater
Categories
Brigade Activities Home Fire Safety

House Fire Upwey 19 May 2026

House Fire Ropley Grange Upwey

House Fire Upwey

Devastating House Fire Upwey

At 10:57pm Sunday 19 April 2026, Upwey Fire Brigade responded to a house fire in Upwey.

We were supported by crews from Upper Ferntree Gully Fire Brigade, Ferntree Gully Fire Brigade and Bayswater Fire Brigade. Our thanks to these brigades for their assistance.

Unfortunately the house was a total loss. Our thoughts go out to all effected by this terrible event.

It was determined the fire was started from an old lithium-ion battery of a power tool on a new modern charger. Batteries need to be charged on the correct charger and at times of the day where it can be supervised. This also highlights the need for working smoke alarms.

About lithium batteries

Smoke Alarms

 
 
House Fire Ropley Grange Upwey
Categories
Home Fire Safety

Chimney Cleaning Time

Clean your chimney annually

Chimney Time

Chimney Maintenance Time

With the cooler weather seasons fast approaching, CFA is encouraging residents to keep themselves safe by checking and maintaining their fireplaces, chimneys, fireboxes and flues.

 
Spending a few minutes to check your chimney could be one of the most important fire safety actions you take this season.
 
You can easily check for creosote build-up or obstructions in your chimney using a torch before lighting the fire. Or you can engage a professional chimney sweep to check and clean your chimney for you.
 
CFA recommends you have your chimney cleaned annually and regularly test your smoke alarms to ensure they are working.
Clean your chimney annually
Categories
Home Fire Safety News

Daylight Saving 2026 Ends

Daylight saving ends
time change to daylight saving time on white background

Daylight Saving Ending 2026

Daylight Saving Time ends 3am Sunday 5th April 2026.

Turn your clocks BACK 1 hour.

Upwey CFA encourages you to check your smoke alarms are in working order when daylight saving ends this Sunday. 

Three easy steps;

  • Test all your smoke alarms – press the test button and alarm should sound
  • Dust all your smoke alarms using a vacuum brush
  • Check &/or change the battery annually.  Long life batteries can last up to 10 years and don’t need changing.

More information about smoke alarms 

Daylight saving ends
DLS ends test smoke alarm
Categories
Home Fire Safety

PAVS 2025

Prepare Your Property

PAVS - Property Advice Visit Service 2025

Prepare Your Property

Plan, Protect, Survive.

Spring is with us and now is the time to start thinking about how well prepared are you and your property in the event of a bushfire.

Upwey CFA provides Property Advice Visit Service (PAVS), an awareness-raising program delivered by trained brigade members. PAVS is a free service that typically involves a 15- 20 minute meeting at your property. You will receive

  • publications
  • planning templates
  • information about your local risk and
  • preparing for a bushfire

Visit upweycfa.org.au/community-support/ for more information about PAVS and how to book a visit.

See also upweycfa.org.au/prepare-your-property/

More information about preparing your property can be found at
cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property

Categories
Home Fire Safety

Prepare your Property

Burn Off Checklist
Burn Off Checklist

Prepare Your Property

A well-prepared property is more likely to survive fire.

Start outside: clear gutters, mow grass, trim overhanging branches. Every action reduces risk.

Planning And Preparing

Tips on How To Prepare Your Property

Prepare Your Property
Prepare Your Property By Cleaning Gutters
Prepare Your Property By Tidying Garden
Categories
Home Fire Safety

Chimney Fire Risk

Clean your chimney annually

Chimney Fire Risk

Reduce Your Chimney Fire Risk.

CFA is encouraging residents to keep themselves safe by checking and maintaining their fireplaces, chimneys, fireboxes and flues.
 
Even though the cooler months are now well upon us, it’s not to late to take action.
 
Spending a few minutes to check your chimney could be one of the most important fire safety actions you take this season.
 
You can easily check for creosote build-up or obstructions by simply using a torch before lighting a fire. Or you can engage a professional chimney sweep to check and clean your chimney for you.
 
CFA recommends you have your chimney cleaned annually and regularly test your smoke alarms to ensure they are working.
Clean your chimney annually
Categories
Home Fire Safety Incidents

Heater Fire 2025

Heater fire 1

Heater Fire Incident June 2025

Crews from Upwey CFA recently responded to the report of a heater fire inside a house. The cause of the fire was found to be clothes left to dry close to an electric heater had ignited.

Fortunately the occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm sounding and were able to take quick action to prevent the fire spreading and taking hold of the house. The result was only minor damage inside the house and a lot of smoke throughout which the crews were able to clear.

This incident serves as a timely reminder when drying clothes always keep them at least a metre from the heater and that working smoke alarms save lives.

upweycfa.org.au/a-metre-from-the-heater/

upweycfa.org.au/smoke-alarms/

More about smoke alarms

 

Subscribe to MyCFA to get tailored information on how to plan and prepare for fires if you live, travel or work in Victoria.

Heater fire 1
Heater fire 2
Categories
Home Fire Safety

A Metre From The Heater

A meter from the heater

1 Metre From The Heater

Remember 1 Metre From The Heater

Many house fires are caused by clothes being too close to a heater, especially when left to dry over night.

When drying clothes in front of a heater always remember to keep them “A Metre From The Heater“.

Don’t forget to make sure you regularly test and clean your smoke alarms.  More about smoke alarms.

A meter from the heater