Cooking and electrical fires are still the largest cause of house fires in the Macedon Ranges, according to the CFA.
The CFA’s latest preventable fire statistics revealed that across district two, which takes in the Macedon Ranges, there were 61 house fires in 2017 which could have been avoided.
The fires caused more than $500,000 in damage.
Nineteen of the fires were caused by heaters, 16 fires were cooking-related, with 13 the result of cooking being left unattended.
There were also 12 electrical and 14 chimney fires across the district last year.
District two operations manager Bill Johnstone said the statistics showed the importance of a working fire alarm.
“Working smoke alarms save lives. This is clearly demonstrated through the fact there were no deaths as a result of preventable fires in 2017,” he said.
“Our message is clear. Check your smoke alarm’s battery and if your smoke alarm is aged 10 years or more, the whole unit should be changed.”
Acting CFA chief officer Garry Cook said local brigades were working to educate people about preventable house fires.
“The best way to stop a fire is to teach a person how to be safe in the home and stop a fire before it even begins,” he said.
“Whether we are educating people about not drying clothes too close to the heater, never leaving cooking unattended or keeping lighters away from children, it is all part of our ultimate goal of protecting life and property.”
