Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is warning residents to be extra ‘fire aware’ after more than 100 fires damaged homes last week, causing serious injury and resulting in two fatalities.
FRNSW Deputy Commissioner Field Operations, Jeremy Fewtrell said that during the fires recorded last week nine people were injured and twin three-year-old girls lost their lives in Batlow.
“With the winter period compounded by more people staying at home during a global pandemic, people need to be extra vigilant about home fire safety,” Deputy Commissioner Fewtrell said.
“We are very concerned with the large number of fires we have seen this week across NSW so we urge people to stay safe and aware of any risk of fire while they are at home,” he said.
“As the global pandemic has hit leading up to winter it means that more people will be at home for longer periods and that unfortunately increases the risk of fire.”
Deputy Commissioner Fewtrell said FRNSW had launched its Get ready for winter checklist online and encouraged the community to use it.
“I urge everyone to be extra vigilant about fire safety at home to protect themselves and their families, so we avoid tragedies like we have already seen so far in this winter period,” he said.
He said people should check that their smoke alarms were working; never leave cooking unattended; practice their fire escape plan; not overload power points or boards; and call Triple Zero in the incident of a fire.
FRNSW’s Get ready for winter checklist can be accessed at this PS News link.
