General News
24 July, 2023
Shed fires prompt safety warning
Following a rise in shed fires across the state, the local fire authority is urging residents to fire proof their garages by decluttering the space and installing smoke alarms in the area. Throughout Victoria, CFA have already responded to 26 garage...
Following a rise in shed fires across the state, the local fire authority is urging residents to fire proof their garages by decluttering the space and installing smoke alarms in the area.
Throughout Victoria, CFA have already responded to 26 garage fires this year compared to 28 in total from the previous year, with car fires also expected to go up.
In Maryborough and neighbouring regions, faulty electrical wiring and lack of cleanliness is currently the most common cause of shed fires according to Goldfields group officer Peter Higgins.
“We haven’t had as many incidents and issues as we did last year but the problem we usually face is that a lot of the sheds are not wired correctly and a lot of the times we get fires as a result of overloading power points as well,” he said.
“There’s normally also a lot of clutter around the area where the heating sources are.
“Electric fires are also causing a bit of a problem, as well as cars parked next to flammable liquids.”
Mr Higgins said to prevent an incident from occurring the community should take time out to regularly inspect and check the condition of all appliances in their sheds.
“Everyone should run a quick safety check in their garage,” he said.
“Make sure there’s no flammable liquid, paper and other things around that could catch a light [and keep an eye on] electric and gas utilities making sure they all meet the required regulations.
“With the power cords as well, they might have been damaged and just because they’re out in the shed, we think that they’re a little bit safe when they’re not so it’s important to change them too.”
Apart from checking the state of appliances, Mr Higgins said residents should take some necessary and simple precautionary measures.
“Keep your garage clean and free of clutter and also install a smoke alarm, ensure there’s a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket,” he said.
“Normally people don’t think it’s worth having a smoke alarm in the shed but it’s really important that they are put up. The first 30 seconds to a minute of a fire is very crucial — with a $25 to $30 alarm or extinguisher people could possibly save a $70,000 car and other contents in the shed.
“Residents should be wary — just because it’s a shed doesn’t mean safety goes out the door.”