By Jessica Micallef
Firefighters were called to nearly four house fires a day on average, last winter.
According to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), firefighters responded to 383 residential fires during winter last year.
Now, the MFB is calling on Victorians to put a freeze on “preventable” house fires.
Cooking was the most common household activity to start a fire, followed by electrical mishaps and heating systems.
MFB acting deputy chief officer community resilience Adam Dalrymple said winter was traditionally a busy time for firefighters.
“We want to see people become more proactive and develop safe fire habits as all house fires are preventable,” he said.
“If you are not maintaining household items such as electrical blankets, heaters and kitchen appliances, or if you are using them incorrectly, you are putting yourself and the people you live with at risk.”
Mr Dalrymple said residents should avoid charging phones or electrical devices on soft surfaces such as bedding or a couch because it could spark a fire.
“Never overload power boards or electrical sockets and always ensure laptops have a good source of air flow,” he said.
“There is also a fire risk from overcharging devices, especially electronics that have a lithium-ion battery, including power tools or mobility devices.
“It is important to not leave these electronics continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete.”
The kitchen continues to be a “hotspot”, accounting for half of all house fires last winter.
Residents are urged to keep tea towels away from the stove stop, supervise children while cooking and have working smoke alarms in place across the house.
“The kitchen can be the most dangerous room in your house and not taking proper precautions can put you at risk,” Mr Dalrymple said.
“You should always keep looking if you are cooking and if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off all appliances.
“We recommended smoke alarms be installed in all bedrooms, living areas and hallways and multiple units are interconnected so no matter where you are in your home, you will be alerted if there is fire.”
For up-to-date home fire safety information, visit: mfb.vic.gov.au
