We had a fire one winter when I was a kid. The roof caught on fire via the chimney. Everyone, including the pets, ended up being fine. It was scary to be sent outside in the snow in pj's and to see the roof burn. I've been a little afraid to use a fireplace ever since.
Those of us who lived in unsafe homes growing up aren't always sure what we need to do in order to keep our homes safe. We may lack that thing others call common sense based on good experiences. For that reason, I love lists and articles like this one.
1. Check your fricking smoke alarm.
It’s been 10 years since it became a law to have a smoke alarm in your home in NSW and it’s worth noting that most smoke alarms expire after ten years. So get a new one. “The new smoke alarms are photo-electric, they are more sensitive to the type of house fires we have,” she says. The new ones, she adds are much better anyway, and much less likely to go off when you burn your sausages.
2. Think twice about electric blankets.
“Winter’s problem is heaters and electric blankets – because they have been folded up all summer – and so [I would recommend] getting them tested and making sure they are still working. And if you think there is an issue just throw them out.” They don’t have electric blankets in their house, btw.
3. Don’t plug too many things in.
The most common causes of the house fires that Keiran’s crew gets called out to are “overloaded power boards” and dysfunctional electric equipment.
4. Scrap the scented candles.
But they smell sooooo lovely, right? Wrong. “We don’t have candles,” says Keiran, because they are also on the list of the things that start common house fires.
5. Turn everything off.
“I am terrible when we go away, I am turning off every single powerpoint. Unplugging absolutely everything possible.” Okay, okay, Keiran, we are taking notes.
6. Don’t leave your dishwasher/washing machine/dryer running. Ever.
If you’re going out, if you’re going to bed, if you’re popping to the shop just for a minute? Nope. “We don’t leave the dishwasher or the dryer or the washing machine on when we aren’t home. We don’t leave them running overnight. Just things that can possibly overload.”
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