***VISION ALERT*** Firefighters step up winter fire advice to protect seniors | NSW

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4. ***VISION ALERT*** Firefighters step up winter fire advice to protect seniors - NSW

***VISION ALERT*** Firefighters step up winter fire advice to protect seniors - NSW

Published: 16 Aug 2024 02:28pm

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews across the state are visiting retirement villages and lifestyle communities to share life-saving advice about winter fire dangers to protect our seniors.

At present this winter, 11 people have died in residential fires in NSW. Three of them were aged in their seventies.

Of the 58 people killed in residential fires across the state over the past five winters, at least 18 or 31 per cent were aged over 65, prompting FRNSW to step up efforts to protect those among our most vulnerable.

At least 27 or 46 per cent were aged 50 or over.

Fire crews are pro-actively visiting retirement villages and other seniors communities as part of FRNSW's "Senior Fire Ed" program, educating residents about how to keep warm safely over winter.

"Advising our seniors about fire safety in their homes is a crucial part of Fire and Rescue NSW's Community Engagement program," Acting Metropolitan Operations Commander, Andrew Faunce, said.

"Operational firefighters across NSW are being tasked with carrying out these visits," Acting Assistant Commissioner Faunce said, "With two weeks of winter remaining, we don't want anyone else dying or suffering injuries in a residential fire."

Household tips include rolling up electric blankets instead of folding them, keeping materials at least a metre from the heater and ensuring householders are 'looking whilst they're cooking.'

No fewer than 480 or 43 per cent of the 1080 residential fires in NSW last winter occurred in the kitchen.

Residents are encouraged to invest in fire blankets and storing them near the kitchen.

Throwing water onto a kitchen fire is likely to cause a dangerous flare-up.

Smothering the flames with a fire blanket is the advisable course of action.

Firefighters recommend keeping a fire extinguisher available nearby and just as crucially, ensure homes are fitted with 'working' smoke alarms.

The crews discuss potential hazards, emergency responses, fire safety equipment, and personalised fire safety and fire escape plans with village residents and staff during their presentations.

Any resident, not just seniors, can book a home fire safety visit through the FRNSW website: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits. [external link]

A crew will visit your home with advice and install a smoke alarm, free of charge, if necessary.

Specialist smoke alarms to assist the deaf or hard of hearing are also available for installation.

Media note - Footage of a FRNSW visit to the Angus Bristow Retirement village at Elderslie in Sydney's south-west is available here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/999334634/8b4801b4a5 [external link]

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