22/05/2026
Our top 5️⃣ fire safety topics to help keep you safe this Winter
🔥Heating
▪️Always turn your heater off before going to bed or leaving the house.
▪️Gas and electrical heaters should be serviced every 2 years to help prevent fires.
▪️Keep flammable items at least 1 meter away from your heater or fireplace.
▪️Don’t be tempted to try and dry your washing too close to your heating source!
▪️An open fireplace screen guard protects your home from flying embers which usually occur when first starting your fire with kindling or for when you have to temporarily leave the room.
▪️Never leave young children or pets unsupervised around an open fire.
▪️Ensure ash/ embers from an open fire are cold before disposing of them.
🏠 Fireplace Flue Maintenance
▪️Regular cleaning of your fire flue is essential for safety, efficiency and the longevity of your fireplace. Over time, soot and creosote build up inside the flue can lead to dangerous chimney fires, poor air quality and reduced heating efficiency. Regular cleaning helps to remove these deposits and reduce the risk.
▪️A clogged flue can cause smoke and gases, including carbon monoxide, to backdraft into your home. A clean flue allows smoke and gases to exit freely, improving airflow and ensuring a better burn, which means more heat for your home and less fuel waste and risk of fires.
⏰ Smoke alarms
▪️When you’re asleep you lose your sense of smell. A working smoke alarm will alert you if there is smoke from a fire.
▪️A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in two to three minutes. A working smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape safely.
▪️Some people think the smoke alarm outside their bedroom is enough to alert them to fire. Research has revealed that when a fire starts in a bedroom with doors closed, the smoke alarm outside the bedroom will not activate.
▪️You've updated your bedrooms with the latest tech and furniture, but have you considered that the most important item to update is a smoke alarm?
🔋Lithium-ion Batteries
▪️During the winter months, lithium-ion batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
▪️It is recommended to keep lithium-ion batteries in a well-ventilated area such as a garage or car port, and on non-combustible surfaces like concrete or ceramic tiles.
▪️Always charge devices when you are home and let them cool down before recharging. Regularly check the condition of the batteries for any signs of damage or swelling and discontinue use if you notice any abnormalities.
▪️Laptops and mobile phones should be charged on a flat surface with no flammable materials around. Make sure there are no foreign objects in the connections and avoid cheap accessories such as charging cables. Damaged cables and charging in unsafe conditions can pose both an electrocution and fire risk!
▪️Please warn your teenagers never to leave their laptop or mobile phone charging on their beds.
🪵 Fire Pit Safety
We all love a winter fire pit but to ensure fire pit safety please consider the following;
▪️Place your fire pit on a level, non-combustible surface at least 3-5 meters away from structures and combustible materials.
▪️Maintain a minimum clearance of 3 meters from overhanging branches and flammable vegetation.
▪️Ensure adequate ventilation around the fire pit to prevent smoke build up and carbon monoxide accumulation.
▪️Always supervise your fire pit, especially if children or pets are present, and never leave it unattended.
▪️Use dry, seasoned hardwoods for wood- burning fire pits to minimise smoke and residue.
▪️Have water on standby to extinguish the fire when you’re finished with it
To stay safe in your home this winter visit: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fires-in-the-home
Do your part and the fire won’t start!
