Smoke alarm – new bedroom essential

By Carol Saffer

A young Melbourne couple escaped with their lives thanks to a fire alarm on their upper floor when their inner-city house was destroyed by fire.

The male resident woke to the faint sound of an upstairs smoke alarm and rushed to wake his wife before quickly evacuating and calling triple zero (000).

The fire completely gutted their home, but the couple and their pets safely evacuated thanks to their working smoke alarms.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) recently launched the 2022 Smoke Alarm Campaign that encourages Victorians to install additional smoke alarms in their bedrooms.

Data reveals that more than 70 per cent of fatal house fires start in bedrooms and sleeping areas.

Bacchus Marsh CFA Brigade Captain Nick De Leur said it is very important that local residents should take the time to install extra alarms in bedrooms and check that all the smoke alarms in their house are working.

“Often we go into someone’s house and see a smoke alarm hanging down without a battery because it goes off every time they use the toaster,” Mr De Leur said.

“It is also important that everyone in the household especially children know what to do when the alarm goes off,” he said.

“There is plenty of information for residents on the CFA website on how to have a fire plan in place.”

The fire agencies are encouraging Victorians to consider additional smoke alarms in bedrooms, living areas and hallways rather than usually in the kitchen.

“People lose their sense of smell when they are sleeping, and the carbon monoxide in smoke will put you into a deeper sleep,” said Garry Cook, CFA Acting Chief Officer.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-06-14/10

in the 14 June 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.