Fire safety in the home
Did you know most household fires are preventable? Here are some safety tips to avoid accidental fires in the home.
Time to test your smoke alarms
Always keep items at least one metre away from heaters (especially flammable fabrics and material). Be mindful not to overload power points and never piggy-back plugs into one socket or use double adaptors on a power board. Regularly inspect power boards, extension leads and adaptors for signs of damage. Never leave stovetops unattended while cooking, always turn the stove off before you leave the room. Ensure flammable material like tea towels and curtains are kept away from the stove.
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Smoke alarms save lives, but they need regular testing to make sure they provide effective protection. Housing Choices has at least one smoke alarm in each of our properties and we test them every time we visit you for a routine inspection. In addition to the testing we do, we recommend tenants test their smoke alarms occasionally. How to test your smoke alarms All smoke alarms have a test button. Press the test button until you hear a loud alert tone, then release. 1. Use a broom handle if you cannot reach but be careful you do not damage the smoke alarm. 2. The alert beeping tone should stop after a few seconds. If it doesn’t, press the test button again. 3. If your smoke alarm doesn’t beep at all, please ring the Housing Choices Maintenance Hotline immediately on 1800 203 383 so we can investigate the issue.
Keep your oven, range hood and grill clean as a build-up of grease and fat can ignite and cause a fire.
If you have a dryer, keep it clear from clutter and regularly clean the lint filter. Avoid overcharging and overheating devices with lithium-ion batteries such as phones, tablets, power banks and computers.
Have you ever thought about what happens to your belongings in a fire? Contents insurance can help cover the cost of replacing your personal possessions. We recommend researching and talking to insurance companies to find a policy that fits your needs and budget. For more information on fire safety please visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services website dfes.wa.gov.au or call their general emergency information line on 13 3337 .
We also wanted to remind tenants to never modify, cover or paint over smoke alarms as this compromises your safety and you could be charged for the cost of the repair.
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