Category: Home Fire Safety

Home fire safety tips

Home Fire Safety

Daylight Saving 2023 Ends

Post author By John Blackburn
Post date 29 March 2023

time change to daylight saving time on white background

Daylight Saving Ending 2023

Daylight Saving ends 3am Sunday 2nd April 2023.

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. If you have a battery operated alarm, change the battery also.

Three easy steps;

Test all your smoke alarms monthly – press the test button
Dust all your smoke alarm annually
Check &/or change the battery

Tags Day light saving, Smoke Alarms

Home Fire Safety

1 Metre From The Heater

Post author By John Blackburn
Post date 9 August 2022

Keep Clothes 1 Metre From The Heater

During the cooler months many of us dry our clothes in front of the heater.

When doing this, always remember the saying Keep Clothes A Metre From The Heater.

Some advice from CFA
Data from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) reveals Autumn and Winter are the highest risk periods for residential fires in Victoria, due in part to the increased use of home heating.

CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook said home heating includes open fires, wood heaters, fixed electrical or gas-powered appliances, and portable electrical, gas, or kerosene heaters.

“More than 70 per cent of fatal house fires start in bedrooms or lounge rooms,” said A/CO Cook.

When it comes to home heating, FRV and CFA recommends:

Home heating, including flues and chimneys, are regularly cleaned and serviced by a certified technician.
All heating devices are switched off or extinguished before leaving home or going to sleep.
Drying clothes and other items must be kept at least one metre away from all heating.
Children must be supervised near all types of heating. Maintain a safe distance between children and heating.
For portable heating appliances choose models that have automatic safety switches that turn the heater off if tipped over.
Keep portable electric heaters away from wet areas to avoid the possibility of electric shock.
Brick chimneys and gas heaters should be checked before winter to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
FRV and CFA recommend smoke alarms should be considered “A Bedroom Essential” and recommend they are installed in every living area and bedroom.

More information visit Winter Chill Brings Increased Home Fire Risk (takes you the CFA web site).

Tags Home Fire Safety

Home Fire Safety

Daylight Saving 2022 Ends

Post author By John Blackburn
Post date 25 March 2022

time change to daylight saving time on white background

Daylight Saving Ending 2022

Daylight Saving ends Sunday 3rd April 2022.

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 monthly – press the test button
Dust all your smoke alarm annually
Check &/or change the battery

Tags Day light saving, Smoke Alarms

Home Fire Safety

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Post author By John Blackburn
Post date 6 October 2021

smoke alarm

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Only Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives

When you‘re 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. A smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape.

CFA recommends you have a smoke alarm installed in every living area and bedroom in your home.

Smoke alarms are compulsory in every home.

Since 1 August 1997, Victorian law states that smoke alarms (complying with Australian Standards AS3786) must be installed in all homes, units, flats and townhouses. It is the responsibility of all owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms.

Homes constructed before 1 August 1997 need only standalone, battery powered smoke alarms. Homes constructed after 1 August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240 volt mains power. These smoke alarms must also have a backup battery installed in the smoke alarm in case there is a loss of power.