Curlewis fire prompts deadlock warning

A FIRE in Curlewis has prompted a warning from the Country Fire Authority that residents should “never deadlock doors when you are at home”.

South West CFA has used social media to explain the risk to homeowners if they deadlock their house and a fire breaks out.

The authority said a Curlewis family was lucky to escape when their garage caught fire after a golf cart battery malfunctioned while it was being charged.

The CFA has reported that all doors to their home were deadlocked and, in a state of panic, the local residents had to search for keys.

The people found the keys and escaped but the CFA has warned “it could have been a different story if it was a few hours later and the occupants were asleep”.

“Fortunately, the fire was contained to the garage thanks to the efforts of CFA and FFM crews,” the authority said.

“Each year, a number of households encounter difficulties escaping from fires within their home due to security measures and may even perish due to the delay.

“It is important to feel safe within your home, yet in the case of a fire, it is just as important not to lock you or your family in.

“Never deadlock doors when you’re at home. If you must keep doors deadlocked, leave your keys in the lock.”

Other security measures that can slow your escape from fire include multiple locks on external doors, security grills and bars on windows or security screen doors, and keyed locks or roller shutters on windows.