Over the last few weeks the Detector Inspector team has been participating in a number of industry events including The Ideas Exchange and the LJ Hooker Summit conference.

When preparing for these events we considered what to do with our event space and thought it a great opportunity to spread the message of home fire safety – after all, that’s our job! But rather than talk solely about the need for smoke alarms and smoke alarm services, we thought to highlight a range of easily avoidable fire hazards which are commonly found to be the cause of fires in the home.

Take a minute and review the scene in the image of this blog post. It contains seven fire hazards which most of us have had some experience with. Below we review each one a little closer but before you continue see if you can identify all seven.

Fire Hazard #1
Piggy backing plugs into one socket or using double adapters can cause you to exceed the maximum current rating of your power board and putting yourself at risk of a home fire.

Fire Hazard #2
Believe it or not, leaving your laptop powered up and resting on a bed or a couch can cause a home fire. The cooling fan inside the computer may not be able to get the air it needs resulting in the device overheating and starting a fire.

Fire Hazard #3
To many this may seem antiquated, but some people still choose to smoke inside their homes. Unattended or dropped burning cigarettes cause a significant number of house fires each year. Smoking in bed in particular should be avoided as the smell of smoke will not wake you up if a fire is occurring.

Fire Hazard #4
Children have a fascination with fire but often don’t fully understand the dangers. Be sure to talk to them about fire safety, explain that fire is a tool not a toy and at all times keep matches and lighters out of their reach.

Fire Hazard #5
Many Australians are guilty of leaving electrical appliances running when they are out of the home, despite this being one of the most common causes of house fires. Most people remember to turn off heaters but other common appliances are not treated the same way and can cause a fire. If no one is home to notice and call for assistance
or extinguish the fire the results can be devastating.

Fire Hazard #6
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not suggesting that you should never use candles indoors. They have a role to play in ceremony, celebrating and relaxing, but care should always be taken.

Consider the following points: Any material or fabric should be cleared from the proximity of the flame. Use only sturdy candle holders so they will not fall over. Candles should not be used in the bedroom where people might fall asleep. Be sure to blow out any burning candles before leaving the home.

Fire Hazard #7
Be careful when using heaters and fire places, and especially when using them for purposes other than intended. In this image a clothes rack has been placed directly in front of a fire place as a make-shift dryer. This is a clear fire hazard and should be avoided.

Having reviewed some of the most common home fire hazards we wish to reiterate the importance of smoke alarms in the home. These devices are your best defense against the potential loss of property and life should a fire occur in your home.

If you’re renting please ask your agent, who is servicing my smoke alarm?

Remember, only working smoke alarms save lives!