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www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>August</strong> <strong>20</strong>, <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong><br />
39<br />
Stay safe warning after spate of fires<br />
Mid Canterbury people are<br />
being urged to stay fire safe<br />
after fires around the country<br />
in the past weekthat caused<br />
extensive damage to three<br />
homes and acaravan.<br />
Aheater too close to<br />
flammable materials started a<br />
fire in aChristchurch caravan<br />
used as asleepout.Ahouse in<br />
Manawatu suffered damage<br />
from fire that started in the<br />
chimney. Two instances where<br />
cookingwas left unattended on<br />
the stove in Otago, oneina<br />
homeand oneinan<br />
accommodation lodge, resulted<br />
in afire startingand ahouse<br />
fire in Whanganui also started<br />
after apan was leftonthe stove<br />
and the oil caught fire.<br />
‘‘It was lucky in these<br />
instances everyone managed to<br />
get to safety, especially the<br />
Christchurch caravan which<br />
did not have aworking smoke<br />
alarm,’’ saidFireand<br />
Emergency national manager<br />
community readiness and<br />
recovery SteveTurek.<br />
‘‘However, they all resulted<br />
in severe property damage and<br />
are examples of why youshould<br />
not underestimatehow quickly<br />
fire can spreadand the need for<br />
working smoke alarms andan<br />
escapeplan.<br />
‘‘A fire can be deadly within<br />
just three minutes which is why<br />
it’s so importanttoget that<br />
early warningoffirefrom your<br />
smoke alarms.Make sure you<br />
have them in all bedrooms,<br />
hallways andliving areas <br />
including caravans and sleep<br />
outs.Check they areworking by<br />
pressingthe buttoneach<br />
month.’’<br />
He said fire was notjust fast,<br />
it was alsodisorienting.<br />
‘‘The smokemakes it difficult<br />
for youto see, hear and think.<br />
That’s why your household<br />
should alsohaveanescape<br />
plan,and practice it, so youcan<br />
get out quickly and safely.’’<br />
People can make an escape<br />
plan at www.escapemyhouse.<br />
co.nz.<br />
‘‘Check on elderly family and<br />
neighbours who mayneeditto<br />
makesure they have an escape<br />
plan andworkingsmokealarms<br />
too.<br />
‘‘Taking the timenow to do<br />
thesesimple things and make<br />
sure you’re prepared could<br />
save youand your loved ones’<br />
lives.’’<br />
Firesafety tips<br />
Makesure you have working<br />
smoke alarms in all bedrooms,<br />
hallways andliving areas even<br />
for caravansand sleep outs.<br />
Makesure you have, and<br />
practise, an escape plan. Make<br />
one at escapemyhouse.co.nz.<br />
Never leavecooking<br />
unattended. If youneed to<br />
leavethe stove,nomatterhow<br />
brief, make sure you switch it<br />
off.<br />
Keep anythingthatcould<br />
catch fire at least one meter<br />
from your heat source.<br />
Makesureyourchimney is<br />
swept beforeyou useitfor the<br />
firsttime of the season.<br />
Afirefighter in action at atraining burn exercise held at Rakaia last year.<br />
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