Victorian fire services are calling on people to make sure their electrical appliances are safe this winter with many Victorians working from home and spending more time inside.
Chief Officer of the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Jason Heffernan said in the three years from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020, CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) attended more than 5,100 electrical fires which involved household equipment and appliances.
“These include fires started by electrical appliances, cooking equipment and heating and cooling systems,” Mr Heffernan said.
“Overloaded power boards, phone and laptop chargers and electric blankets are of particular concern for fire services,” he said.
“There are a range of safety measures people can take to reduce the risk of these everyday items leading to a devastating fire.”
Mr Heffernan said people should check they weren’t overloading power boards; never leave electrical appliances on soft surfaces; and never leave devices like phones charging overnight.
“Switch appliances off at the wall when not being used and turn off heaters before going to bed or leaving home,” he said.
Fire Rescue Commissioner, Ken Block urged residents to take the time to check their home and ensure it was safe.
“Many people think a house fire won’t happen to them, but the state’s fire and rescue services have attended around 30 electrical fires per week on average in the last three years,” Mr Block said.
“That’s why it’s vital you have a well-practised home fire escape plan and that you test your smoke alarms each month,” he said.
“Only working smoke alarms save lives.”
Mr Block said firefighters were asking all Victorians to add four fire safety measures to their household to-do list this winter, including testing smoke alarms monthly; having a home fire escape plan in place and practising it; ensuring their home office setup is safe with no overloaded power boards; and that they turn off all appliances before bed, including electric blankets.
