To help prevent fire-related incidents during the colder months, Taranaki Fire and Emergency are providing simple, effective steps to keep your whare and workplace safe.
Winter is the time of year when we notice an increase in house fires across the country, and Taranaki is no different. We need people to take responsibility for their fire safety and there are some simple things that people can do. We have approximately 100 house fires in Taranaki each year and this is too many. We need to get this number down. Unattended cooking fires are the leading cause of fire in our district. It’s vital that people “keep looking when they’re cooking” because fires burn so hot and so fast these days.
It’s essential that people have working smoke alarms, an escape plan, and a safe meeting place. 97% of all people that die in house fires die from the smoke, and this can happen in as little as two breaths, so working smoke alarms are essential. If you are renting, Landlords must supply them, and tenants must maintain them. A simple press and hold of the “test” button until it activates is a simple test to do regularly.
Cooking oil ignites at 370 degrees and quickly rises to 550 degrees Celsius. It can reach 1000 degrees Celsius in under three minutes which can spread throughout the home at an unbelievable speed. Keep a metal lid handy by the stove and keep combustibles clear of the cooktop. Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
We are encouraging people to install a heat/thermal alarm in their kitchens (1m back from the cooker on the ceiling) because we don’t put smoke alarms in kitchens. Heat/thermal alarms have a temperature sensor and go off at 59 degrees Celsius. They do not go off when you burn the toast or fry food. They can be purchased at hardware stores. Heat/thermal alarms are also good for the laundry and shed, especially if you are charging things.
We also encourage people to use air fryers. These have a lower cooking temperature than most ovens and a timer, so they shut off automatically. This week is the perfect time to check kitchen appliances. Frayed cords, and broken appliances need to get fixed or replaced as faulty appliances are also a fire risk in the kitchen.
Lastly, multiplugs in kitchens a can be handy, but if the appliance heats or cools, it really needs its own plug to prevent a fire from an overloaded multiplug.
Fire can double in size every 30 seconds, so always ring 111 early in an emergency.