Baby’s cough alerts parents
A FIRE behind a fireplace in a Quail Rise holiday home has prompted a warning about noncomplying flues.
CentralNorth Otago fire risk management officer Stu Ide said a baby’s coughing in a smoky room alerted the house’s occupants about 3.30am on Sunday.
‘‘A baby was sleeping in the bedroom with the parents, and the baby started coughing, which woke the parents up, and that’s when they realised they had a problem.’’
The fire started after timber beams behind the home’s multifuel burner ignited because they were placed too close to the flue.
‘‘We’ve had three fires within the last 12 months associated with flues in fireplaces,’’ Mr Ide said.
Builders had to comply with a national standard aimed at keeping combustible mater ials at a safe distance from flues, he said.
There were specified minimum gaps between the flue, one or two heat shields and the timber or board enclosure.
‘‘In all the cases we’re seeing, it’s because this timber and board is way too close to those shields.’’
In a process called ‘‘pyrophoric action’’, the timber slowly dried out over time, gradually lowering the temperature at which it ignited.
The issue had been identified in eight house fires in the district in the past few years, those homes ranging in age from seven to 12 years old.
Mr Ide said he did not want to alarm property owners, but people needed a ‘‘headsup’’.
‘‘It’s a bit of a concern this is carrying on. Do we have to wait until there’s a fatality until we do something about it?’’
He recommended people check with their builder to confirm whether their flue complied.
‘‘They may have to talk to their insurance company if they’re not 100% as to how that could be achieved, because if the house goes on fire, it’s going to cost the insurance company a huge amount of money.
‘‘If they can get on to the problem now, and get it looked at now, it would be minimal cost.’’
Damage from the Quail Rise fire was limited after an occupant got on the roof and controlled the fire with water before firefighters arrived.