Fire Safety in the Home

Most fatal fires occur in the home and can be prevented. Be proactive.

Plan how you would escape a fire in your home.
Plan and practise your home fire escape plan with your family.
Complete the simple home fire safety checklist on www.homefiresafety.com.au – it could save your life.
Only working smoke alarms save lives – check that your smoke alarm is working.
Never leave cooking unattended.
Install more than one smoke alarm in your home to increase early warning of a fire.
Keep passageways and exits uncluttered.
Make sure older family, friends and neighbours have a home fire escape plan and know what to do in the event of a fire.
Plan and practise how you would escape a fire in your home.

Risky behaviour

Keep electrical appliances and equipment in good working order – replace if damaged.
Turn off electrical appliances and equipment at the power point when not in use.
Have and know how to use your fire blanket and extinguisher.
Keep clothing, curtains and toys at least one metre from heating.
Dry clothes at least one metre from heating.
Install, maintain and operate heaters according to manufacturer's instructions.
Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire.
Put out fires and turn off heaters before you go out or go to bed.
Extinguish cigarettes, candles, incense and oil burners before leaving home or going to bed.
Keep electric blankets flat with controls at the side of the bed.
Regularly check electric blankets for broken and worn wiring.
Turn electric blankets on no more than 30 minutes before you go to bed and turn off before you get into bed.
Clean the lint filter on your clothes dryer after each load.
Let your clothes dryer complete its cool-down cycle before stopping.
Use candles, incense and oil burners only on stable, non-combustible surfaces.
Use powerboards according to manufacturer's instructions – never overload and check regularly for damage.
Never deadlock doors when you're at home and keep keys in deadlocks when you're home.
Clean chimneys and flues at least once a year.

Visit www.homefiresafety.com.au for more home fire safety advice.