By Candice Boyle
TOO many City of Maribyrnong residents are ignoring simple fire protection messages, according to Footscray firefighters.
After a fire earlier this month, it was found only two out of in 10 units in a Footscray property had a working smoke alarm.
Footscray Metropolitan Fire Brigade senior station commander Guy McCrorie said firefighters were shocked so many residents had a “it won’t happen to me” mentality.
“It is the first warning you get that a fire is imminent and it gives you the ability to act and get out,” he said.
Mr McCrorie said the recent fire in Footscray, which caused the evacuation of 32 people, proved the fire safety message was not reaching all residents.
“Smoke alarms are the cheapest life-saving device you can buy, but only a working smoke alarm can save lives,” he said.
Since 1999, it has been the legal responsibility of owners and landlords to install smoke alarms in all residential buildings including homes, units, flats and townhouses.
Mr McCrorie said working smoke alarms were essential for residents’ safety and for the rapid response of the fire brigade, which is given just 7.7 minutes to respond to a fire call.
“The earlier we are alerted means the quicker we can get there and the quicker we can get them out,’ he said.
Mr McCrorie said the majority of fires he attended were the result of overloaded power points or unattended cooking or candles catching alight.
Smoke alarms should be tested weekly and batteries, including back-up batteries in alarms hard-wired into a home’s electrical system, should be changed at the start and end of daylight savings.
