Fire Safety Tips
A fire in a hostel in Wellington, New Zealand has resulted in multiple deaths, highlighting the importance of fire safety plans. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) recommends having photoelectric smoke alarms in every bedroom, living area, and hallway of a home, and using heat alarms in the kitchen, laundry, and garage. FENZ also recommends having a reliable escape plan with two escape routes for each room, and keeping curtains, oven mitts, and tea towels away from the cooking area. If there is a fire, it’s important to get out of the property and call 111, and not try to re-enter to grab items left behind.
Important things
- The importance of fire safety plans, especially after a tragic incident in Wellington that resulted in multiple fatalities due to a fire.
- Recommendations from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) on how to ensure the best fire alarm safety, including using a photoelectric smoke alarm in every bedroom, living area, and hallway, and using heat alarms for the kitchen, laundry, and garage.
- The importance of making an escape plan that includes two escape routes for each room, clear doors and windows, and a meeting place outside the home to call 111.
- Tips for cooking at home safely, such as not leaving cooking unattended, regularly cleaning the stove and range hood, and keeping flammable objects away from the cooking area.
- Other fire safety tips for the home, including not overloading power points and multi-boxes, keeping electrical equipment in well-ventilated areas, and ensuring that open fires are screened with a proper fireguard and never left unattended.
- What to do if there is a fire, including getting out of the property as quickly as possible, crawling out on your hands and knees if the fire is consuming a large section of an area, and shouting “fire, fire, fire” as you exit.
