CFA plea on smoke alarms

THE CFA has issued an urgent warning for Geelong residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms, following the preventable deaths of two infant sisters and a series of recent lucky escapes.

The warning comes just days after the coroner found the September deaths of two toddlers in an East Geelong house fire could have been prevented if a working smoke alarm was installed.

CFA chief officer Steve Warrington also revealed recent house fires in Bannockburn, Bayswater and Hamlyn Heights became lucky escapes for occupants, with neither home fitted with working smoke alarms.

“Only working smoke alarms save lives,” Mr Warrington said. “In both fires on the weekend we had residents who had to smash through windows to save their lives because there was no smoke alarm to alert them to the danger they were in.”

Mr Warrington said CFA crews were responding to most house fires late at night as residents were sleeping. “As you sleep, your body relaxes and your sense of smell weakens, which means the chances of you smelling smoke are very low, this is why smoke alarms are so important,” he said.

“If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, you should have a smoke alarm in every bedroom and living room.”

The warning comes a week after Coroner Rosemary Carling found the September deaths of Sana, 2, and Saba Qorbani, 1, in an East Geelong house fire were “tragic and, sadly, entirely preventable”.

The findings, released on July 2, showed the fire started when a toy fell on to a heater, with the girls’ bedroom quickly filling with smoke.

Ms Carling’s report found the toddlers’ parents had rushed them to hospital but they were pronounced dead soon after, having died from smoke inhalation.

Ms Carlin called for sweeping changes that would make it compulsory for all rental properties to have hardwired smoke alarms.

On the same day Ms Carlin’s report was released two Powercor line workers pulled a 98-year-old man to safety after noticing smoke billowing from his Robb Ave property about 10pm. There was no working smoke alarm.

Firefighters last year revealed there were no working smoke alarms in four house fires that killed five people in the region.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A SMOKE ALARM IN EVERY BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM.

CFA CHIEF OFFICER STEVE WARRINGTON