With the official start to winter here, Victoria’s fire services are warning the community not to be complacent when heating the home as it is the peak time for heater fires.
In the past five years, CFA responded to more than 640 house fires caused by a heater.
These types of fire mainly start either due to a mechanical fault, or because the heater is placed too close to flammable materials in a lounge room or sleeping area. Home heating systems vary and can include fixed electrical or gas-powered appliances, portable electrical, gas or kerosene heaters, as well as open fires and wood heaters.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said as we begin to spend more time indoors, Victorians should make sure their gas and electrical heaters are serviced every two years to safeguard their loved ones from fire.
“Last year CFA responded to 87 house fires caused by heaters and in 2022 there were 119 fires. This decline is encouraging to see but ideally, we want to see a figure of zero,” Mr Heffernan said.
“A common mistake we’re finding is households are keeping their drying clothes too close to heaters and fireplaces, so it’s best to ensure they are at least one metre away from all heating.
“Regardless of when you turn a heater on, just be mindful to turn it off before you leave the house or go to sleep.”
FRV Deputy Commissioner Community Safety Joshua Fischer said having smoke alarms installed in all hallways, sleeping and living areas is the best line of defence.
“In an emergency, every second counts and having working smoke alarms in the sleeping and living areas of your home will ensure you are alerted promptly in the event of a fire, buying you and your family precious time to escape,” he said.
“We want all Victorians to be aware that the colder months are some of the riskiest times of the year for fires in the home.”
