SENIORS are most at risk from fires, and people over 65 are more likely to die in a fire than younger residents.
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According to figures from Fire and Rescue NSW, a quarter of all fire-related deaths in NSW have been from this age group.
Which is why the organisation is urging seniors, and those who care for them, to be aware of basic home fire safety.
Often older people may be affected by mobility issues, reducing their capacity to escape if a fire breaks out in their home.
They also may be more likely to economise and use older appliances, such as portable heaters and electric blankets.
And they could have difficulty installing and maintaining working smoke alarms
“NSW legislation stipulates that smoke alarms must be installed on every level of your home,” said Fire and Rescue NSW leading firefighter Phil Weekes.
This includes owner-occupied homes, rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans and campervans, or any other residential building where people sleep.
Mr Weekes said Fire and Rescue NSW recommends that wherever possible, hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms be installed.
“If your alarms cannot be hard-wired, it is also recommended to purchase alarms that rely on 10-year lithium batteries. Inbuilt 10-year lithium batteries last as long as the smoke alarm so you don’t need to worry about replacing them every year – you simply replace the entire smoke alarm unit once every 10 years.”
These alarms must be placed in hallways near bedrooms; however, if bedrooms are in different parts of the house, you must have alarms installed in each of these locations.
“If there are no hallways associated with the bedrooms, alarms must be installed between the part of the home containing the bedroom and the rest of the house.
“You must have smoke alarms on all levels of your home even if there are no bedrooms located on that level.”
Get help
Mr Weekes said it is important to always install smoke alarms in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. “If it is difficult for you to fit one yourself, contact your local Fire and Rescue NSW station for advice,” he said.
On average, 21 deaths occur in residential fires across NSW every year. According to the RNSW Fire Investigation and Research Unit, a third to a half of those fatalities may have been prevented if the homes had working smoke alarms and had a practised home escape plan.
- For further information on NSW regulations visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au or the relevant fire authority in your state.
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