‘Learn from fire deaths’

Smoke alarm legislation changes to be considered

THE state’s Emergency Management Commissioner says authorities must learn from the tragic deaths of two East Geelong sisters after a coroner found their deaths were “entirely preventable”.

Commissioner Andrew Crisp has vowed to work with other authorities in considering possible smoke alarm legislation changes.

His promise to learn from past tragedies comes days after Coroner Rosemary Carlin found the 2017 deaths of infants Sana and Saba Qorbani in a house fire would have been prevented if a working smoke alarm was installed.

“Any death that results from a house fire is a tragedy,” Mr Crisp said. “We need to learn from these deaths and do more to ensure the community is better prepared for the potential of any fire.

“We all have a role to play to keep our community safe from fire and that shared responsibility includes our fire services, regulatory bodies and the community itself.”

Following the release of the findings into the sisters’ deaths Ms Carlin called for sweeping changes to fire safety legislation which would make it compulsory for all rental properties to have hardwired smoke alarms.

Under Victorian law, hardwired smoke alarms with a battery back-up must be installed in all buildings constructed after August 1, 1997.

Homes built before this — such as the Qorbanis’ rental property — can have batteryoperated alarms.

In 2017 Queensland introduced the 10 year rollout of the nation’s toughest smoke alarm legislation, requiring all houses to have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms, in hallways that connect bedrooms to the house and on entry level. So far leaders have refused to say if they looking at bringing this legislation to Victoria.

It’s understood the State Government is currently rolling out more than 130 reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act directly relating smoke alarm.

While these changes are likely to deliver clarity around the obligations of renters and owners, they will not make it compulsory for hardwired alarm to be installed in all homes. But acting consumer affairs minister Adem Somyurek said he would also consider further recommendations made by the coroner.

“The government is currently considering the Coroner’s recommendations,” Mr Somyurek said.

A CFA spokeswoman said firefighters recommend smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom and living area and tested monthly.