Fire safety

International students are increasingly appearing in statistics related to fire incidents and deaths in Australia. Sadly, most of these fires are preventable. You can take some simple steps to reduce the risk of fire in your accommodation.

Smoke alarms

When you are sleeping you have no sense of smell, so you cannot smell smoke. A smoke alarm is a device that detects smoke from a fire and sounds an alarm. Smoke alarms alert and wake people allowing valuable time to get out of a house during a fire. For your protection, a smoke alarm must be installed in your home.

In Australia it is compulsory for all rental properties, rooming houses and hostels to have smoke alarms installed. It is the legal responsibility of owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms before you move in. It is your responsibility to maintain the smoke alarms.

There are three steps to maintaining a smoke alarm:

Test the smoke alarm each month by pressing the button (use a broom handle if you are unable to reach it);
Change the battery in your smoke alarm yearly (choose a public holiday or your birthday, so it’s easy to remember); and
Dust around the vents of your smoke alarm yearly.

Look after your smoke alarm. Only working smoke alarms save lives:

Don’t remove the battery;
Don’t take the smoke alarm down;
Don’t cover the smoke alarm;
If cooking sets off the alarm, do not disable it. Turn on the exhaust fan, open a window or wave a towel near the alarm;
If the battery is low the smoke alarm will sound a short ‘BEEP’ every minute or so. This is to alert you that the battery needs replacing; and

If there is no smoke alarm or it does not work tell your landlord.

Electricity

The safe use of electricity assists in preventing house fires:

Improper use of powerboards and double adaptors can lead to fires. A double adaptor or a powerboard plugged into another double adaptor or powerboard creates a danger of overloading the electrical system. Leaving an extension cord coiled while in use or placing a cord under floor coverings can cause overheating;
Be careful to keep electrical appliances away from water. A hair dryer takes time to cool down. For safety, allow this to happen on a non-combustible surface before storing it;
Computers, monitors and TVs can overheat and cause fires even when not in use. They should be turned off after each session. Good air circulation is necessary around TVs and videos. TVs should be turned off at the set, not only with the remote control; and
Light globes can become very hot. It is dangerous to cover a lamp with any type of fabric.

Heaters

It’s nice to keep yourself warm in cooler weather, but remember heaters are a major cause of house fires:

Read and follow the operating instructions for your heater;
All clothes and curtains should be at least one metre from the heater;
Turn off all heaters before you leave your room or go to bed; and

Before you go to bed at night or leave your home, ensure heaters are turned off at their power source and any fires are extinguished.

Candles, Oil Burners and Cigarettes

Candles, oil burners and cigarettes can all be dangerous fire hazards:

Do not smoke in bed;
Dampen cigarette butts before putting them in the rubbish;
Make sure your candles are on properly designed candle holders;
Don’t leave your room when a candle or oil burner is alight;
Don’t go to sleep when a candle or oil burner is alight; and
Do not put candles or oil burners near windows. Be careful, curtains can catch fire easily.

Cooking

Most house fires start in the kitchen:

Always stay in the kitchen while food is cooking;
Hot oils and fats catch fire easily:
- Do not use water to put out an oil fire; and
- Use a dry powder extinguisher, fire blanket or saucepan lid to extinguish, but only if safe to do so.
Keep tea-towels, sponges and paper towels away from burning gas stoves;
Turn off the cooking appliance before you leave the room or go to bed; and

Only prepare food in the kitchen.

Plan Your Escape

If a fire occurs where you live, you may have to get out in the dark.

Make sure:

doors are not blocked, preventing you from evacuating;
you can find your key easily (in the lock is best); and
you check if windows can be opened to evacuate.

In a fire:

Get down on the floor. Crawl to the door;
Get out of your room;
Close the door. This prevents smoke and fire from spreading;
Alert others;
When outside, stay out. Never re-enter a burning building; and
Call 000 (zero, zero zero) to alert the fire department.

What to do when you call 000:

say “FIRE”;
wait;
tell the operator your address and nearest cross street/corner; and

do not hang up the telephone if you do not speak English well – say your language and an interpreter will assist you with your call.

Bushfires

Bushfires commonly happen during drier and hotter periods of the year and almost any part of Australia could come under threat from bushfire at some time. Bushfires that occur on hot, dry and windy days can threaten lives and cause significant damage to property. Check weather forecasts in local newspapers, radio and television, and the fire services website for Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Ban days in areas where you live, work or are travelling.

You can reduce the fire risk around your home by clearing out anything that could fuel a fire:

Clear grass and weeds from around your house;
Clear gutters, roofs and down pipes;
Store anything flammable (eg – firewood, rubbish, garden furniture, gas bottles) away from your house; and
Make sure your garden hoses are long enough to reach all areas of your property.

If you are going on holidays or travelling in rural areas, make sure you stay informed about bushfires while you are away. Check the Fire Danger Ratings and local fire restrictions, including Total Fire Bans for the areas you are travelling through and staying. You can find this information on the rural fire service web page for your state or territory:

Be prepared to change your travel plans on hot, dry, windy days to stay away from areas where bushfires may occur;
Tell a family member or friend where you are going, and let them know if you change your plans; and
Consider taking food and drinks with you.
Have a woollen blanket in the car to protect you from radiant heat if you are trapped by fire.

Avoid driving in areas where there is bushfire activity, as roads become extremely dangerous. If you see smoke, turn around and drive away from it. If you get caught on the road this is a threat to your life as your car offers very little protection from radiant heat.

To increase your protection:

Park behind a solid structure to block as much radiant heat as you can. If this is not possible, then pull over to the side of the road into a clear area, well away from debris that may ignite;
Wind up the car windows, close the vents, put on the hazard lights and headlights, leave the engine running and air conditioning on recirculate. Do not get out of the car and run;
Get down as low as possible below window level;
Cover yourself with a woollen blanket until the fire passes; and

Get out of the car once the fire passes.