Firefighters are urging residents to be wary of the dangers of cooking, electrical and heating-related fires after crews were sent out to a “preventable” blaze in Hume.
CFA crews were called to a house fire in Greenvale on May 1. The blaze is believed to have been started by an open fire left burning, which spread to the living room about 3am.
The most common cause of preventable house fires in winter in Hume is cooking related, in neighbouring Macedon Ranges heating is most often to blame.
Last winter, there were almost three times the number of preventable house fires in Hume than in the Macedon Ranges.
In Hume, 62 fires caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages. There were 20 winter fires in Sunbury alone. In the Macedon Ranges, there were 24 fires in the same period, causing $1 million in damages.
Riddells Creek CFA community safety manager Dean Anderson said as colder weather approached, the demand on heaters and electrical appliances increased, adding the risk of appliances causing house fires.
“While many residents may have taken significant steps to plan and prepare for bushfire, it’s also important that we devote the time to reduce house fire risks inside our home,’’ he said.
“On average, there are 4500 house fires in Victoria each year and most of them could be prevented by taking simple precautions.
“Heaters, chimneys, electric blankets and clothes dryers can become a fire risk, particularly if they have been sitting unused for a period of time.”
Mr Anderson said residents should regularly clean lint filters in clothes dryers, check electric blankets for kinks in wiring, and have chimneys and flues cleaned. He warned overloaded powerboards and powerpoints could overheat and start a fire.
“Far too many fires start when clothes come into contact with heat sources so to be safe always use the one-metre rule when drying washing near heaters or open fires,” Mr Anderson said.
More details at www.cfa.vic.gov.au
The CFA was unable to provide Star Weekly with Whittlesea fire statistics before going to press.
