Fire Safety in the Home – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

On average, there are 3,000 house fires in Victoria each year. Most could be prevented by taking simple precautions.

Improving home fire safety can be done quickly and cost effectively by focusing on areas of greatest risk and taking action to reduce risk of known hazards.

To reach your community we need your help. These in-language resources have been developed for you to share with your community. 12 community language translations are given.

In the kitchen

Cooking in the kitchen is the single largest cause of fire in the home.

Never leave your cooking unattended.

Keep your cooking appliances and cooking area clean. Remove grease, dust and oil.

Things that can catch fire, like tea towels or paper towels must be kept away from cooking and heat sources.

Always supervise children in the kitchen. Keep them away from the stove top and oven.

Electrical

Check you’re not overloading power-boards and keep cables tidy.

Ensure monitors, laptops, televisions and other equipment have a good air flow around them and are not in confined spaces or covered.

Don’t leave electronic equipment like laptops and phones sitting or charging on beds or soft furnishings.

Heaters

Drying clothes and other items must be kept at least one metre away from all heating.

Keep children safe around heaters and open fires. Don’t let them get too close and never leave them unsupervised.

Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room.

Smoke Alarms

Check your smoke alarms are working to keep you and loved ones safe

If there is a fire, you may not wake up without a working smoke alarm in every living and sleeping area of your house.

Install smoke alarms in all bedrooms and living areas in your home.

Interconnected smoke alarms are recommended. When one sounds, they all sound so you have a better chance of getting your family to safety.

Test smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button to make sure it beeps

Before Bed/Night Routine

Switch off all electrical appliances such as irons, stoves and hair straighteners

It’s better not to charge mobile phones, tablets or laptops overnight.

Don’t put washing machine or tumble dryer on overnight.

Turn off heaters and put wood fires out.

Make sure all candles and cigarettes are out properly.

Make sure you know what to do if a fire starts. Plan how you would escape a fire in your home and practice this with your whole family.

Check CFA’s website for more tips on home fire safety at https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fires-in-the-home

Translations: Use this link or scan the codes below.

Fire Safety in Language

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.