Daylight saving begins Sunday, check your smoke alarm

DAYLIGHT Savings Time begins this Sunday, 4 October at 2am and the CFA is again urging people to remember to not only wind their clocks forward an hour but also check their smoke alarms.

CFA deputy chief officer Gavin Freeman said fire and rescue services had been telling Victorians to check their smoke alarms and change the batteries since 1997.

“Most fatal fires start in lounge rooms and bedrooms. Unfortunately, some of these tragedies may have been able to be prevented by having working smoke alarms in the right places.

“We recommend smoke alarms be fitted in all sleeping and living areas. This is your best chance of an early notification and escape, regardless of where a fire starts.

“It’s also a good idea to install interconnected smoke alarms, so that when any smoke alarm is activated by smoke, all alarms are triggered.”

If your smoke alarms aren’t working properly, you may miss a vital early warning sign that could save the lives of you and your family.”

Smoke alarms are compulsory in all Victorian homes.

Residential tenants are responsible for regularly cleaning and testing smoke alarms in their homes and to report any faults to the landlord or agent.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family from house fires, visit your local CFA Brigade or head to cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/smoke-alarms.