Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters from Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and Macksville stations urge residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the end of Daylight Saving on Sunday.
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“Only working smoke alarms help save lives,” Nambucca Station Commander, Captain Rob Couchman said.
“A fire can take hold in just three minutes, filling your home with deadly smoke. A working smoke alarm gives you vital seconds to get out before you’re overcome.
“A smoke alarm with a flat battery is just as risky as not having a smoke alarm at all. That’s why you should change your smoke alarm battery when Daylight Saving ends.”
FRNSW data reveals 13 per cent of the 3900 home fires in NSW last year occurred in properties with no working smoke alarms. Devastatingly, more than half (56 per cent) of fatal house fires between 2000 and 2014 had no smoke alarms present. The majority of these deadly fires also occurred between midnight and 6am – when people were asleep.
FRNSW recommends householders install photoelectric, interconnected and hard-wired smoke alarms.
“In addition to the legal minimum requirement of one smoke alarm per level, FRNSW recommends having smoke alarms installed in all bedrooms for maximum protection,” Capt Couchman said.
Smoke alarms are also mandatory for all caravans, campervans, and other moveable dwellings where people sleep – even if the vehicle is kept off the road.
“If you don’t have smoke alarms, don’t gamble with your family’s life by waiting to install them – you should do it now,” Capt Couchman said.
If you need help checking or replacing the battery in your smoke alarm, contact your local fire station and ask about the Smoke Alarm and Battery Replacement (SABRE) program for seniors and people with disabilities.
* FRNSW stations in the Nambucca Valley are all looking for firefighters.
Contact your local fire station or go to www.fire.nsw.gov.au for more information.
