HOME FIRE SAFETY MFB HOME FIRE SAFETY 3-02/07

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HOME

FIRE

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2 MFB HOME FIRE SAFETY – 3-02/07

ELECTRICITY

THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY ASSISTS

IN PREVENTING HOUSE FIRES.

The build up of grease, dust and dirt can fuel a ﬁ re.

All electrical appliances including toasters, ﬁ lters on range hoods, central heating systems and air conditioners therefore, need regular cleaning.

Fires caused by damaged and frayed cords can be prevented.

Cords on electrical appliances need regular checking. It is recommended that any repair to an electrical appliance be done by a qualiﬁ ed electrical tradesperson.

Computers, monitors and TVs can overheat and cause ﬁ res 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.

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Improper use of powerboards and double adaptors can lead to ﬁ res.

A double adaptor or a power board plugged into another double adaptor or power board creates a danger of overloading the system.

For safety, use a single extension cord rather than joining shorter cords.

Leaving an extension cord coiled while in use or placing a cord under ﬂ oor 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.

Light globes can become very hot.

It is therefore dangerous to cover a lamp with any type of fabric. To dim a lamp it is recommended that a lower wattage globe is used.

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THE KITCHEN

THE MAJORITY OF ALL HOME FIRES START IN THE KITCHEN.

CHILDREN NEED CONSTANT SUPERVISION TO PROTECT

THEM FROM THE DANGERS OF FIRES, BURNS AND SCALDS.

Anything cooking on the stove should not be left unattended.

Accidents can happen very quickly.

A good practice is to ensure pot handles are turned inwards.

Food splattering can cause a ﬁ re.

Avoid danger from splattering by using a sufﬁ ciently large utensil.

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FLY SPRAY Many substances in the kitchen

are ﬂ ammable.

Flammable materials such as pressure packs, cleaning agents and cooking oils should be stored away from heat.

Accumulated fat is a ﬁ re hazard. As well as the griller, your oven and rangehood require regular cleaning.

Never use water to put out a fat or oil ﬁ re.

Keep a ﬁ re blanket and a dry powder extinguisher handy and know how to use them.

Fire blankets must be at least one metre from the stove and your ﬁ re extinguisher is best located near the kitchen’s entrance.

Fabrics and loose clothing can catch ﬁ re easily.

Keep your clothing away from heat.

Tie long hair back to prevent accidents.

FLY SPRAY

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1 OPEN FLAMES

CANDLES, OIL BURNERS, MATCHES/LIGHTERS AND

CIGARETTES CAN ALL BE DANGEROUS. PREPARE YOUR

FAMILY FOR THE SAFE USE OF OPEN FLAMES.

When using an oil burner:

Pour in a small amount of water. Then add the oil.

This will keep both the burner and the oil at a safe temperature.

Inappropriate disposal of cigarettes causes ﬁ re.

Dampen cigarette butts before disposing of them.

Remember: smoking in bed is extremely dangerous.

Candles and oil burners should be lit only when they are well away from curtains and open windows.

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Children should never be allowed to have access to matches or lighters.

An adult should be present at all times when a candle or an oil burner is being used.

Place candles and oil burners on ﬁ re resistant surfaces, in such a way that they can not be knocked over.

It is recommended that smokers use only child proof lighters and deep ashtrays.

JFAIP is a free service to families who think that their child may be playing with ﬁ re. This service aims to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and property damage caused by Juvenile Firelighting in Victoria.

Selected fi refi ghters are trained specifi cally to consult with children.

They can work in the child’s home environment with the entire family. The visits remain completely conﬁ dential. The use of professional interpreters can be included in the service. Contact the JFAIP Ofﬁ ce for information or assistance on 1300 309 988.

JUVENILE FIRE AWARENESS AND

INTERVENTION PROGRAM [JFAIP]

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If it is safe to do so, turn off the gas/electricity at the stove or at the main supply. Take hold of the two

tabs and pull the blanket out of its container.

Holding the tabs to protect your hands, stretch out your arms in front of you.

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Call 000.

Fireﬁ ghters will attend.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

PRACTISE WHAT TO DO. KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT.

Walk slowly towards the ﬁ re.

As the blanket hits the bottom of the pot, drape the blanket over the ﬁ re.

Leave the blanket over the pot.

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5 FIRE BLANKETS

WHERE TO BUY FIRE BLANKETS

AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Fire blankets and extinguishers can be purchased from most hardware stores and large supermarkets. Fire blankets cost around $15-20, and ﬁ re extinguishers cost from $20, depending on size.

MFB recommends: Buy only ﬁ re blankets and extinguishers with the Australian Standard symbol.

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Remove the extinguisher from its holder.

Pull out the pin. Take off the lid.

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Take the extinguisher off the wall or lift it

off the bench.

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If it is safe to do so, turn off the gas/electricity at the stove or at the main supply.

Walk slowly to within 2 to 3 metres of the ﬁ re.

Sweep the powder at the ﬂ ames.

Call 000.

Fireﬁ ghters will attend.

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5 DRY POWDER EXTINGUISHERS

Continue until the

extinguisher is empty.

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Aim at the base of

the ﬁ re.

Push the trigger.

4 TO GET HELP

DIAL ‘000’

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SMOKE ALARMS

THE EARLIER A FIRE IS DETECTED, THE GREATER THE

CHANCE OF ESCAPING SAFELY. WORKING SMOKE ALARMS

ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

WHERE TO INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS

• Don’t put a smoke alarm in a bathroom. • Don’t put an ordinary smoke alarm

near cooking areas. • A smoke alarm should be installed outside the sleeping area(s)

of your home.

• Install extra alarms inside bedrooms where doors are shut at night. • Two storey houses often have bedrooms upstairs, and must

also have a smoke alarm downstairs near the path commonly used to exit the house.

Single storey house.

When there are bedrooms at either end of the house, two smoke alarms are required.

Two storey house.

Two smoke alarms required, near bedrooms and near commonly used exit.

Bedroom 1 Living Room

Kitchen Family Room Study Bedroom 4 Bedroom 3 Bathroom Toilet Laundry Bedroom 2 BIR Toilet Smo k e Alarm Smo k e Alarm Living Room Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Kitchen Laundry Toilet Carport Entry/ Exit Smo k e Alarm Smoke Alarm

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MAINTAINING A WORKING

SMOKE ALARM

All houses must have a smoke alarm on each level. Home owners are legally responsible for installation of alarms in rental properties.

Smoke alarms should carry the Australian Standard symbol.

Test smoke alarms each week by pressing the button.

Vacuum alarms each month to clean them.

Change the batteries each year. At the end of Daylight Saving change your clock and change your smoke alarm batteries.

A HOME ESCAPE PLAN IS ESSENTIAL

FOR PROTECTION IN CASE OF FIRE:

• It is important to have two means of exit from each room.

• As you are leaving a room, close the door to prevent ﬁ re & smoke from spreading. When there is smoke, always crawl low to get under the smoke.

• The ﬁ rst priority is to get out of a burning house. • Alert others as you go.

• Phone 000 from the nearest available phone. • Be prepared to give address, name & nearest

cross roads.

• When outside, never go back inside the house. • Arrange a meeting place at the front of the

house, where the occupants know to assemble & wait for the ﬁ re brigade.

This is an example of a home escape plan

1st option of escape 2nd option of escape

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BE PREPARED: HAVE A HOME ESCAPE PLAN

UPDATING YOUR

SMOKE ALARM

When you are sleeping you cannot smell smoke. Smoke alarms save lives. They wake you and alert you to the danger from smoke and ﬁ re.

Smoke alarms in existing homes were made compulsory in February 1999. New homes must have wired-in smoke alarms installed prior to occupancy. There are two principle types of smoke alarms: ionisation and photo-electric. Ionisation smoke alarms detect the presence of extremely small particles of smoke. Photo-electric smoke alarms detect visible smoke.

Both ionisation and photo-electric smoke alarms provide occupants time to escape. Photo-electric alarms are now the technology of choice.

Ionisation alarms have helped save the lives of hundreds of people in Australia. The MFB urges all householders to supplement their existing ionisation smoke alarms with photo-electric alarms.

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WINTER FIRE SAFETY

MANY PREVENTABLE HOUSE FIRES OCCUR IN

WINTER. PREVENT FIRE. KEEP YOURSELF WARM.

BUT REMEMBER WINTER FIRE SAFETY.

Wheat-ﬁ lled Heat Packs can help pain, but they can also be dangerous.

Follow the instructions on the pack carefully. When heating a wheat-ﬁ lled heat pack in a

microwave, always place a glass of water next to it. This will ensure it doesn’t dry out and overheat.

WHEAT-FILLED HEAT PACKS

A wheat-ﬁ lled heat pack should be cooled down on a non-combustible surface before storing.

Wheat-ﬁ lled heat packs can ignite, and are not designed to replace hot water bottles for warming beds.

ELECTRIC BLANKETS

If not used carefully electric blankets can start ﬁ res.

When you take an electric blanket out in Winter, check that the wires are completely ﬂ at and undamaged. Electric blankets should be placed perfectly ﬂ at on the bed, with the controls beside the bed.

Warm your bed by turning your electric blanket on for half an hour before you retire.

Then turn it off at the controls and the power source as you are going to bed.

CHECK YOUR

HOTSPOTS

CHECK YOUR HOTSPOTS

Keep your house safe during Winter by visiting the Hotspots website at www.checkyourhotspots.com.

Learn about the potential ﬁ re risks in your home. Download a ﬁ re safety checklist that you can use to make sure you’re safe.

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HEATERS &

OPEN FIRES

Follow some basic procedures to avoid ﬁ res.

When having your heater installed ensure the instructions from the manufacturers are followed correctly. Ensure space is left between the heater and the wall.

Flues and chimneys require cleaning once a year.

Anything ﬂ ammable such as curtains, clothing, bedding and children’s toys should never be within one metre of a heater.

To protect children, check that their night clothes are labelled “Low Fire Danger”. Natural fabrics, especially wool, have a ‘Low Fire Danger’.

Before you retire for the night or leave your house, ensure ﬁ res are extinguished and heaters are turned off at their power source.

CLOTHES DRYERS

Lint is a combustible material.

Lint ﬁ lters require cleaning each time the dryer does a load.

Allowing the dryer to complete its “Cool Down” cycle is essential to prevent overheating.

Always ensure air ﬂ ow around a clothes dryer.

When not in use, dryers should be turned off at their power source. Similarly, dryers should be turned off before you retire for the night or leave your home. Strong ﬁ re screens should be securely

placed in front of open ﬁ res.

Firewood must be stored away from the ﬁ re.

Young children must be supervised at all times in rooms where there are open ﬁ res or working heaters.

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BARBECUES

Protect your children from ﬁ re outside the house as well as inside.

There should be an adult in charge of a lit barbecue at all times.

GAS CYLINDERS

Before using a gas cylinder check its expiry date.

• Ensure that connections on the hose are tight and there is no leakage. • Check that the hose is intact and

has not perished or cracked. • The quickest and safest way to

reﬁ ll an empty gas cylinder is via an exchange program, such as those found at service stations. Each full gas cylinder is either new or has been inspected and fully reconditioned by a trained technician.

ON TOTAL FIRE BAN DAYS:

• You cannot use an incinerator. • You cannot light a ﬁ re in the open. • You cannot use solid fuel barbecues. • You cannot light a campﬁ re. • To use a welder, a grinder, a solder

or gas cutter outside you must have a permit from the MFB. Call 9662 2311.

GAS OR ELECTRIC BARBECUES:

Can be used at home, if they are within 20 metres of your house. A barbecue can be used in a park, if it is a ﬁ xed permanent structure.

But you must have:

• a 3 metre area around and above the barbecue that is clear of all ﬂ ammable material.

• an adult in attendance at all times. • a hose connected to a tap ready

for use.

• a bucket of water ready for use (minimum of 10 litres of water).

SUMMER FIRE SAFETY

HOLIDAYS IN SUMMER BRING THEIR OWN RISKS.

YOUR HOME, HOLIDAY HOME AND CARAVAN NEED

PREPARATION FOR A SAFE SUMMER.

TOTAL FIRE BAN DAYS

THERE ARE HEAVY FINES FOR NOT FOLLOWING THESE REGULATIONS.

FIREWORKS

The use of ﬁ reworks without a licence is illegal in Victoria. To obtain a licence contact Victoria Workcover Authority on 9641 1555. In summer a Total Fire Ban occurs

when weather conditions make danger from ﬁ re extremely high. This is often caused by a combination

of high temperatures, low humidity and high winds. Radio, television and newspapers carry announcements of a Total Fire Ban.

For further information telephone the Victorian Information Bushﬁ re Line on 1800 240 667.

TO GET HELP

DIAL ‘000’

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HOLIDAYS

Before leaving home for a holiday complete this three point check list.

1 Smoke alarms are in working order.

2 Electrical appliances are turned off at the power source and unplugged.

3 Gutters are clear of leaves and debris. All combustible materials such as leaves, grass, timber and paper have been removed from around your home.

SECURITY

Make sure if there is a ﬁ re you can get out of your home quickly.

You may have to get out of your home quickly, so keep your keys in the locks if possible, or on a hook in the centre of the door.

OR

Install deadlocks that you can open from the inside without a key. Make sure window security grilles

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MFB AIMS TO PROTECT YOU

The Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service work in co-operation because fi refi ghters can often get to a patient fi rst. A few minutes can save a life.

Fireﬁ ghters are sensitive to differing cultural and religious practices, but their ﬁ rst priority is always the life of their patient. Please co-operate with them.

www.mfb.org.au T: 9665 4464 TTY: 1300 727 301

EMERGENCY MEDICAL

RESPONSE

MFB Firefi ghters are trained to attend life threatening medical emergencies. Don’t be surprised if a fi re truck arrives in a medical emergency. Firefi ghters will perform fi rst aid until an ambulance arrives.

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE

INFORMATION?

The MFB has many programs to help keep you, your family, your home, and your workplace safe from ﬁ re. These include programs for children, retired groups and multicultural groups. The MFB also provides training and advice for safety in the workplace.

TO GET HELP – 000

As long as you feel safe, use your phone. When ﬁ re makes phoning from your home dangerous, call from a neighbour’s home.

• Dial 000.

• Wait.

• The operator will say “Police, Fire or Ambulance?” • Say “Fire”.

• Wait.

• Tell the operator your address and nearest cross street.

REMEMBER: DIAL 000 AND SAY “FIRE”.

If you are using a landline phone your home can be found if you simply say “ﬁ re” and leave the phone off the hook.

This publication is available in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Simpliﬁ ed English and Standard English. We value any feedback on this brochure. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Multicultural Education Ofﬁ cer.

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The MFB is the owner of these materials, no part may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Edition 3–02/07 Brochure design by Mauhaus 03 9349 2255