Be fire safe during wet weather
Published: 29th January 2013
Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Greg Mullins has warned NSW residents not to resort to unsafe practices to dry wet clothing and flooring during the current spate of wet weather.
“After days of rain, don’t be tempted to put your life and property at risk in order to dry wet clothing and possessions,” Commissioner Mullins said.
“In the last 24 hours we have seen a fire in a Port Macquarie hotel caused by an industrial blower heater which was used to dry wet carpets and a clothes dryer start a house fire in Dubbo.
“Don’t be complacent with home fire safety. Keep any flammable materials and clothing well away from heaters, don’t overload powerboards and ensure your clothes dryer filter is cleaned out after every cycle.
“During any power blackouts, keep candles away from flammable material, such as curtains, and ensure they are extinguished when you leave the room.”
People can greatly reduce their risk of fire by identifying and changing risky behaviour and habits. FRNSW tips include:
- Clean out the clothes dryer filter after every load.
- Keep clothing and other flammable materials at least 1m from heaters
- Do not overload power points and power boards
- Only use one appliance per powerpoint and switch off when not in use
- Keep flammable material away from candles and ensure candles are extinguished when you leave the room
- Water-affected electrical appliances and wiring must be checked by a qualified electrician before use
To help identify potential risks in the home everybody is encouraged do a free FRNSW/GIO online home fire safety audit at www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au