Targeting Residential Fire Safety Chris Barber Protecting lives and property cfa.vic.gov.au

2 A Disaster in Slow Motion State of Victoria

3 A Disaster in Slow Motion CFA Area Only

4 Major Causes of Home Fires Targeting Residential Fire Safety Electrical appliances and wiring (24%) Unattended cooking (19%) Heating (12%) –Wood fuelled (8%) 35% start in the Kitchen 9% start in the Lounge Room 9% start in the Bedroom

5 Targeting Residential Fire Safety What are our key residential fire safety messages?

6 Key messages Targeting Residential Fire Safety More people die in house fires than bushfire Only working smoke alarms save lives Change smoke alarm batteries annually Test smoke alarms monthly Clean smoke alarms regularly Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years

7 Key messages Targeting Residential Fire Safety Never leave cooking unattended Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire Keep clothing, curtains and toys 1 metre from the heater Never overload power boards Clean lint filter on your clothes dryer after each use

8 Key messages Targeting Residential Fire Safety Plan and practise your home fire escape plan with your family Get out, stay out and call 000 (triple zero) Crawl low in smoke Deadlocks may hinder your escape in an emergency

9 Targeting Residential Fire Safety A fresh look – factors that increase risk of home fire fatality

10 Environmental Factors Targeting Residential Fire Safety Living alone Start in the lounge room No working smoke alarm

11 Fire Agent Targeting Residential Fire Safety Smoking caused 41% of fatal fires Portable heaters 12x more likely to be involved in fatal fires than other appliances

12 Human Factors Targeting Residential Fire Safety Over half of all fatalities tested positive for alcohol –92% of these greater than BAC 0.10 Over 70 years of age 12x more likely to die in a house fire Almost half fatalities were asleep –85% survivors were awake

13 Targeting Residential Fire Safety Who’s at risk in my area?

14 Six Major Factors? Targeting Residential Fire Safety 1.One 2.Two 3.Three 4.Four 5.Five 6.Six

15 Targeting Residential Fire Safety Two minutes –List all places you can go to target these risk factors –Ways you can target these risk factors

16 Targeting Residential Fire Safety Questions???? If we have time… Thank You