Kurri Kurri Fire Station Web Site Working Smoke Alarms now required by LAW

2006 Archive News Records

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Achieve Records from 2006

On this page you will find news, events and stories from 2006. You can also find links to stories that were published in the Maitland Mercury.

Don’t be late installing a smoke alarm, urge fire officers - 28/04/2006

Rural Shed Fire - 25/04/2006

Kurri Kurri Fire Station 2006 Open Day - 12/04/2006

Tanker 349 Proven Invaluable - 09/01/2006

Don’t be late installing a smoke alarm, urge fire officers

Issued: 28/4/2006

NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) fire officers from Kurri Kurri Fire Station today reminded Kurri home and shared accommodation owners to install smoke alarms before 1 May when they become compulsory.

Station Commander Ken Maxwell said that as many as 670,000 homes across NSW were still without smoke alarms, putting occupants at grave risk.

“Don’t gamble with your family’s life by waiting until 1 May to install a smoke alarm or your loved ones could become another home fire statistic,” Mr Maxwell said.

“During 2005, the NSWFB attended thousand of house fires including 31 in which 37 people lost their lives. Tragically there were no smoke alarms in 71 per cent of the homes where the fatal fires occurred, and in some of the other fatal fires, there are questions about whether or not the smoke alarms were in working order.

“Almost 59 per cent of deaths from house fires occurred during the sleeping hours, from 9pm to 6am, and smoke alarms and are designed to wake people during a fire.

“If you’re asleep at the time of the fire, the smoke, which is full of toxic gases, may numb your senses and put you into a deeper sleep. The high-pitched sound of a smoke alarm is designed to wake you and other family members before the smoke can kill you,” Mr Maxwell said.

All existing buildings where people sleep must have working smoke alarms from 1 May 2006. This includes residential houses, flats and units, boarding houses, motels, hotels, hostels, hospitals, nursing homes and manufactured and relocatable homes. Newly-fitted smoke alarms must comply with Australian Standard 3786.

In homes without existing smoke alarms, owners are required to install – as a minimum standard – a battery-powered smoke alarm. This requirement applies to both owner-occupier and landlord homeowners.

“The NSWFB, however, recommends owners consider installing hard-wired alarms, which can be interconnected so that they all activate if smoke is detected, therefore providing additional warning and time to escape,” Mr Maxwell said.

Existing, functional and appropriately-located smoke alarms do not have to be replaced. The number of alarms needed to be installed depends on the size of the building and its configuration.

“In homes, the regulation stipulates that an alarm must be placed on or near the ceiling in corridors or hallways associated with bedrooms or if there is no corridor or hallway, between the sleeping areas and the living areas,” Station Commander Ken Maxwell said.

A smoke alarm is also required in each storey of the building.

Installing a smoke alarm or alarms is compulsory from 1 May however property owners will be given six months to adjust to this requirement before becoming liable to pay fines for non-compliance.

It will be an offence immediately after 1 May to interfere with or remove a smoke alarm, unless it is to repair, maintain or replace the alarm.

“If you have any queries about smoke alarms or their installation please contact your local fire station. Our fire officers will be more than happy to help,” Mr Maxwell said.

For further information on smoke alarms call the Department of Planning Help Line 1300 858 812 or go to the NSWFB web site at www.fire.nsw.gov.au

Contact:

Station Commander Ken Maxwell

Kurri Kurri Fire Station

Phone number (02) 4937 1025

Rural Shed Fire

Issued: 28/4/2006

On Tuesday 25^th of April 2006 at 11pm crews from Kurri and Weston responded to a Rural Shed Alight Sawyers Gully Road, Sawyers Gully. On arrival crews found the 20m by 15m shed totally involved by fire and went immediately into defensive mode.

Weston’s Pumper and Kurri’s Pumper and Tanker were first on scene with crews working quickly to ensure no other property was threatened.

With lines of 38mm out and minimal water supply, fire-fighters donned breathing apparatus to combat the fire through thick smoke and there was also a high level of risk involved from Acetylene and LPG gas cylinders and unspent rounds of ammunition contained in the structure

The Rural Fire Services also attended and helped with the fire fighting operations and their bulk water carrier was also despatched which became a valuable assets to the operation and alleviated the concern of water supply. The Newcastle HazMat Truck was also responded and gave BA crews additional Support.

Crews worked extremely well together for over 2 hours to contain the blaze with no other property lost or injuries reported.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.

Kurri Kurri Fire Station 2006 Open Day

Be Safe not Sorry

Issued 12/4/2006

The NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) annual Open Day on Saturday 29 April 2006 will give families the opportunity to talk to local fire fighters about smoke alarms in the lead up to 1 may, when the devices will be compulsory in all homes.

"Unfortunately, dozens of people die in home fires each year. The early warning provided by a smoke alarm can be your best chance of survival", Kurri Kurri Fire Station Commander Captain Ken Maxwell said.

"In NSW, it is estimated that around 670,00 homes still don't have smoke alarms."

"However, from 1 May 2006 smoke alarms will be compulsory in all buildings where people sleep. These include residential houses, flats and units, boarding houses, motels, hotels, hostels, hospitals, nursing homes and manufactured and relocatable homes."

During Open Day, Kurri Kurri Fire Station will be open to the public from 10am to 2 pm. The local firefighting crew will be on hand to talk about home fire safety, including installing and maintaining smoke alarms, preparing a home escape plan, and other fire safety measures, as well as discuss the work they do.

"During Open Day, families can find out first hand from their local fire fighters where to install smoke alarms, how many they should install, and how to maintain them properly", Mr. Maxwell Said.

"Open Day is also an opportunity for local residents to tour their local fire station, meet the firefighters, inspect the fire engines, and join in a free sausage sizzle."

The NSWFB Open Day is sponsored by McDonalds and SWAQP'n'Go.

Contact: Ken Maxwell

Kurri Kurri Fire Station

Phone number: (02) 4937 1025

Tanker 349 Proven Invaluable

Issued 09/01/2006

Kurri Kurri Fire Brigades latest piece of fire fighting equipment The Isuzu FTS 700 4x4 water tanker has proven its self to be an invaluable asset to the community.

Responding and utilised at over 40 incidents since mid September 2005 the tanker has responded to numerous bush, grass and car fires and was even used at a major house fire at Frame Drive Abermain.

There has been a need for some time in the area for a four wheel drive vehicle with the large amount of urban bushland interface and rugged terrain, where previously tankers where called from either Cessnock or Maitland.

The tanker has been successfully used to contain smaller fires before they had a chance to escalate, and gives the area much better fire protection. It has also been part of project Lucifer a joint initiative between the RFS, NSWFB, NPWS, Cessnock City Rangers and the NSW Police Service to help eradicate arson in the region.