It's no secret the prevalence of fire in the home increases during winter and judging by the work of Fire and Rescue NSW Taree this past month, it appears the Manning is no exception.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Taree Fire Station Commander Peter Willard revealed the team is coming off a hectic five week period of callouts to cooking, heater and chimney related fires.
Cooking related fires averaged one per week while two incidents originated from heaters.
"It appears people are not looking when cooking and we remind people to keep items such as clothing one metre from the heater," Commander Willard said.
Aged wood heaters sparked several fires. These underfloor fires occurred in older models, which used different materials and flooring than what is installed today.
"One was about 30 years old and the heat had gone through the wood underneath," Commander Willard explained.
At the end of May, the crew was called out to a fire caused by the flue in a chimney.
"It's important for wood fires and heating that you have a heat screen and to have your flues regularly cleaned and checked," Commander Willard said.
"The ceiling can get quite warm so it's important to get them checked every year and make sure they're in tact.
"Mortar can break down in chimneys and because this is out of sight, people can't see it happen."
Despite no incidents so far this winter, Commander Willard reiterated the need to empty lint filters in clothes dryers before and after use.
Other important steps to follow are: turn off heaters and electric blankets before you leave the house or go to bed, don't overload powerboards, keep candles away from curtains and put them out before leaving the room, don't use LPG cylinders for cooking or heating indoors and ensure you have working smoke alarms.
Residents should never been concerned about asking for advice or assistance from the local Fire and Rescue team. Just give them a call on 6551 5246.
"We're always happy to do home fire safety checks," Commander Willard said.
Unrelated to winter related incidents, firefighters have extinguished several car fires in recent weeks.
While you're with us...
Did you know the Manning River Times is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: SIGN UP HERE.
