A rise in house fires and hospitalizations for carbon monoxide poisoning has prompted firefighters to issue a new warning to Australians this winter.
Dozens of people have died in more than 1,000 house fires across the country this year, and firefighters have compared the rise in winter fatalities to a greater need for heating appliances.
Ron Burggraf of Tullarook, Victoria, whose house was set on fire in November last year, said his fire alarms saved his life.
Burgraff’s home caught fire after a fire started in the gym upstairs. (New/Today)
He and his wife had been asleep at about 1am on Melbourne Cup day when they were alerted by the alarm.
“I was woken up by the sound of this alarm and thought I might have been downstairs – someone has left the toaster on,” he said.
Burggraf then discovered a fire in the gym upstairs from his home.
“The smoke got to my chin basically,” he said.
Dozens of deaths have been reported from house fires this year. (new)
“We just left and basically within five minutes the house was on fire – if it wasn’t for the smoke alarm, the outcome would have been totally different.
“It was a coincidence that I had thought the smoke was going up, I should put one up.”
Firefighters have extinguished more than 590 residential fires in Victoria between January and April this year with 10 lives lost in preventable deaths.
More than 420 fires have been dealt with in NSW with 10 deaths.
South Australia has seen one death out of 332 house fires since the start of the year, while there have been 397 fires in WA with five deaths.
Dewberry said working fire alarms are the best form of protection against home fires. (new)
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the increase in house fires this year and fire-related injuries was of particular concern.
“We always have fires, but the concern is the number of fatalities,” he said.
“The best line of defense is those smoke detectors that work. They have to work.”
Dewberry said people should check their smoke alarms and smoke alarm batteries annually and replace them every ten years.
“Especially if you’re a homeowner, that’s the law,” he said.
“One is the law, more than one is fantastic.
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“We want people to check these alarms annually.”
NSW poison center medical director Dr Darren Roberts said there had also been an increase in incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by people using things like barbecues to heat their homes.
Four people in Adelaide were rushed to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning on July 22 after bringing hot coals into a property to keep warm.
Excessive inhalation of carbon monoxide can cause vomiting, tissue damage, brain damage, or even death.
Dr Roberts said the NSW Poisons Information Center hotline had received more than 70 calls from people relating to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be caused by inhaling combustion fumes or poor ventilation around barbecues and grills.
“What’s more worrying is that we’re seeing more and more of it, it’s not just one or two every now and then,” Dr Roberts said.
“We’re seeing family units, large numbers of people who have been poisoned.”