Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews will door-knock more than 200 homes at Lithgow in the state’s Central Tablelands this weekend, offering crucial fire safety advice to local residents.
The move follows similar FRNSW home safety blitzes at Portland, Merriwa, and Warren in regional NSW.
FRNSW crews
FRNSW crews from the local district will seek to engage with locals, offering to test, install and/or replace smoke alarms where necessary, free of charge.
Spring begins tomorrow and that generally results in a large number of kitchen fires. There were 369 fires in kitchens or cooking areas in NSW in spring last year. That represents 40% of all residential fires during that season.
Fire risks and harm minimization
Visiting fire crews will offer to inspect homes in Lithgow and Lithgow West, provide advice about fire risks
Visiting fire crews will offer to inspect homes in Lithgow and Lithgow West, provide advice about fire risks and harm minimization, barbecue and household fire safety; and even provide wooden spoons to householders to remind them to keep 'looking while cooking'.
FRNSW Duty Commander – Metro West, John Moore, said the crews are keen to provide residents with peace of mind and the confidence to engage with their local firefighters.
Smoke alarms
“Over the last two winters, up to 45% of the homes that suffered fires did not have a working smoke alarm,” said Pioneering Station Officer - John Moore, adding “Either they weren’t operational or there simply wasn’t an alarm installed. That complacency has to change because working smoke alarms save lives.”
Residents can contact their local fire station and book a home safety visit.
