PREVENTING A FIRE IN THE HOME

Most home fires are preventable. Reduce your risk and improve your safety by following these safety tips.

Install and regularly maintain smoke alarms

Installing and maintaining working smoke alarms can improve your safety, as they will alert you if a fire has started in your home, giving you time to escape.

It’s recommended that you put a smoke alarm in every room, outside each bedroom and on every level of your home and have them interconnected.

Find out more about smoke alarms

Home fire escape plan

A small fire can engulf an entire room in two to three minutes, leaving little time to escape.

Making a home fire safety plan with your household is simple and could save your life.

Practising your plan will help you to respond better during a fire when you’re stressed or have just woken up.

Develop your plan

Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries, or LI batteries, are a major cause of house fires in WA. LI battery fires are sudden and intense, often throwing battery cells several metres which can cause several fires simultaneously.

There are several reasons a fire may occur in Lithium-Ion battery operated equipment, including overcharging, overheating, batteries being poorly manufactured, and impact damage to batteries.

Find out more about Lithium-ion batteries

Ion-lithium batteries, or LI batteries, are a major cause of house fires in WA. LI battery fires are sudden and intense, often throwing battery cells several metres which can cause several fires simultaneously.

There are several reasons a fire may occur in Lithium Ion battery operated equipment, including overcharging, overheating, poorly manufactured batteries and impact damage to batteries.

Increasingly, garages and workshops are becoming a high risk area due to the number of battery powered tools. Batteries left on charge in garages and worksheds have resulted in devastating fires due to overcharging. With so many flammable items kept in these facilities these types of fires spread quickly and can destroy a home in minutes.

To prevent the risk of devices catching fire, use approved batteries and charging devices

Poorly manufactured chargers and charge cables have been identified as the cause in many house fires in WA.  Only use manufacturers’ approved equipment and batteries. Be careful when ordering products online.

For more information including your consumer rights, please visit Ion-lithium battery safety.

Replace damaged batteries
Remove when fully charged

Kitchen fire safety

Unattended cooking is a major cause of home fires.

Unattended heat sources in the kitchen are responsible for one in seven house fires.

IMPORTANT! Never use water to put out a fat or oil fire, as this will cause the fat to explode and the fire to spread.

Stay safe while cooking in the kitchen
If a kitchen fire starts

Electrical and appliance safety

It is very dangerous to install or repair any kind of electrical component or appliance yourself. Use a licenced electrical contractor to install, check and maintain your home electrical needs and appliances.

If you’re concerned about faulty installation or repairs, contact a licenced electrical contractor immediately.

If the electrical appliance has been purchased internationally or obtained in a used condition, you should check that it complies with Western Australian electrical safety regulations, and have it inspected and tested before use.

Appliances, especially heaters and electric blankets, can develop faults and be the subject of product safety recalls. Check the Product Safety Australia website to search for product recalls.

If an electrical fire starts
Electric blankets
Power boards, adaptors and extension leads
Clothes dryer
Heaters
Downlights

Smoking and candles

You can improve the safety of your household by making some simple changes when smoking or using candles.

Fireplace and chimney safety

Fires can start from:

  • Embers escaping through cracks in damaged brick or metal work
  • A build-up of soot and flammable material from previous winters.

All fireplaces should:

  • Meet approved standards
  • Be installed and maintained by a reputable business or tradesperson
  • Be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Fireplace cleaning and maintenance
Using your fireplace

Home fire safety for seniors and people with disability

Doors, windows and home security

As part of your home fire escape plan, you need to consider how you will exit safely and quickly. Follow these helpful tips on the safe use of doors, windows and home security.

Doors
Security system
Windows

Fire safety in multi-storey buildings

If you live in a multi-storey building it’s important to know the specific fire safety and evacuation details of that building and what to do if a fire alarm is activated.

Understand and practise your fire escape plan
If a fire starts in a multi-storey building
In and around your apartment

Caravan fire safety

More Information

Types of smoke alarms

Find out about the types of smoke alarms you should consider for your property.

Learn more

During a fire in the home

Only use a fire blanket or fire extinguisher in the first few seconds of ignition.

Learn more

Recovering from a fire in the home

Find out about how to safety access and clean up your home.

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Fire in the home overview

Find out how to prevent fires at home and what help is available if it happens.

Learn more