Winter Warning on Deadly Fires

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, today warned that most fatal fires occur in the home and winter is a high fire risk time. A faulty electrical appliance or washing left too close to a heater could have disastrous consequences by exposing family members to death or injuries and causing major structural damage to a property.

A faulty ceiling fan - the source of a fire in the ceiling of a property

The Fire Authorities report that the 3 most common causes of winter fires are:
* Accidents or distractions from cooking in the kitchen
* Fireplace and heater-related incidents
* Electrical faults

Over the last 12 months, approximately 30% of fires in residential dwellings started in the kitchen, with 11% in the bedroom, 11% in the lounge room and 4% in the laundry. Cooking equipment or heating caused 20% of these fires and 20% were caused by electrical faults.

Archicentre's West Australian State Manager Brad Cook said there are around 11,000 house fires in Australia each year, resulting in the deaths of approximately 60 people, often children. Even if no one is hurt, the emotional cost of losing a home, with cherished possessions and memories, is traumatic.

Mr. Cook said that Archicentre's pre-purchase house inspection statistics show that 22% of Western Australian houses being offered for sale and inspected by Archicentre had an electrical fault which the new owner would not have been aware of.

"There are thousands of homes throughout Australia where lives are at risk because effective smoke alarms do not exist or are often poorly installed or maintained.

"Many homes damaged or destroyed by fire don't have working smoke alarms. In some cases fire authorities have reported the batteries have been removed from the smoke alarm rendering them inoperable."

Mr Cook said many families owe their lives to working smoke alarms as you can't smell smoke when you are asleep. A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in two - three minutes. Smoke alarms are an essential early-warning system to alert you and your family to the dangers of fire and smoke and allow time to escape.

Research by Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) found that the absence of a smoke alarm can increase the possibility of a fatality by 60%.

Mr Cook said that it is important once you have an alarm you ensure it is in working order. You should test it weekly by pushing the test button with a broom handle to make sure it beeps; vacuum smoke alarms monthly to clean the vents and replace the battery annually at the end of daylight saving with a long-life alkaline battery.

"Smoke alarms don't last forever and usually have a life span of about ten years. If your alarm is older than this the Fire Authorities recommend it be replaced.

The Fire Authorities have reported that nearly one third of all victims in fatal house fires are seniors. Seniors are more likely to be injured or killed in a house fire than any other group.

Mr Cook said "older adults are considered a high risk group in fire. Some medications decrease their mobility and hearing which can reduce the ability to detect and escape from fire. Impairments can make it difficult for some people to respond quickly to a developing fire. Living alone can also increase their vulnerability to fire."

Remember: in a fire, every second counts. Don't stop to pick up possessions or call the fire brigade. Your only priority is to get out. Call 000 from your neighbour's phone.

ARCHICENTRE FIRE SAFETY CHECK LIST

1. Correctly install appropriate Smoke Alarms into effective locations.
- Test smoke alarms regularly by pressing the test button with a broom handle.
- Vacuum smoke alarms monthly to clean the vents.
- Replace the batteries annually. Use a long-lasting alkaline battery to ensure a continuous supply of battery power to your smoke alarm.

2. Never leave the room when cooking or oil is being heated on the stove. If you throw water on a burning fat or oil fire, it will cause an explosive reaction. Put a lid over a burning pan or use a fire extinguisher or fire blanket.
- Install a fire extinguisher - a dry powder type. Obtain a Fire Blanket for kitchen stove top fires.

3. Prepare and practise an evacuation plan with an escape route, include door keys.

4. Install lever handle latch on doors for quick exit without keys. Install deadlocks that can be opened from the inside without keys.
Don't compromise your evacuation by locking yourself in with security grilles and key only operated dead locks on doors.
- If using deadlocks leave keys in the lock inside the door so that you can escape in an emergency.
- Ensure security grilles are operable to open from inside the home.

5. Clean the exhaust fan grill over the stove to remove fire fuel fats and grease.
- Clean the lint filter from the clothes dryer grille after each use and always let dryers complete the cool-down cycle

6. Tidy up - remove if possible all extension leads. Do not run electrical leads under carpets or rugs.
- Push appliance power point plugs fully into power points and always turn off the power points when not in use.
- Get rid of double adaptors and reduce the use of power boards.

7. Unplug appliances when not in use and if possible have appliances checked annually by a licensed electrician.
- Unplug the TV - don't leave it on standby - it may cause meltdown and fire.
- Switch off the electric blanket before you go to sleep.

8. Have your heating units and ducted heating systems professionally serviced prior to winter use.

9. Install a Safety Switch on power and light circuits.

10. Never leave children alone around heating and cooking appliances and keep lighters and matches out of reach.

11. Take extra care with naked flames particularly the use of candles, and oil burners for essential oils and incense.

12. Don't smoke in bed. Ensure cigarette ash and butts are extinguished.

13. Use free standing space heaters with extreme care.
- Avoid hanging clothes to dry too close to heaters as clothes can soon ignite.
- Turn off heaters when you go to bed.

With an open fire ensure logs in fireplaces have burnt down before you go to bed. Use a heavy duty fire screen in front of fireplace to prevent sparks and burning logs rolling out of the fire onto the floor igniting the floor or carpet. Ensure the fire screen can't be tipped over if a burning log rolls out. Consider installing a wire fire screen or curtain within the fireplace.

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Brad Cook, West Australian State Manager Archicentre (08) 9389 6200 Mobile: 0400 037 094
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201

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