THIS year’s NSW Rural Fire Service Winter Fire Safety Campaign’s theme is ‘Be Safe, Not Sorry’.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter says that this theme is essential following NSW Brigades attending 3,502 home fires last year.

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“Please ensure you have a home fire escape plan so your children know what to do if a fire breaks out.

“It’s also important to fireproof your home as much as possible by having working smoke alarms,” Commissioner Baxter said.

NSW Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Ben Millington said there are steps residents can take to prevent a fire from breaking out in their home.

“It can be as simple as keeping flammable objects a ‘metre from the heater’, not leaving cooking unattended and not using outdoor heating or cooking equipment inside,” Assistant Commissioner Millington said.

Fire and Rescue NSW advises the public to: Check and maintain smoke alarms, keep any drying clothes or anything flammable at least a metre from the heater, clean and maintain any fireplaces, not use outdoor heating or cooking equipment inside your home, check electric blankets are safe for use and never go to bed or leave home with your electric blanket on, not overheat wheat bags in the microwave, not overload power boards, clean the lint filter from your clothes dryer after each use, never leave cooking unattended and aways use candles under adult supervision and do not leave them unattended.

Most importantly, they advise everyone to have a ‘home fire escape plan’ and practice it regularly with all family members.

FRNSW has attended 1,226 home fires since the beginning of 2022.

There were 3,502 home fires in 2021.

Last winter there were 953 residential fires, including: 359 kitchen fires, 98 bedroom fires, 81 chimney/fireplace emergencies and 69 living room fires.

For additional information on how to safeguard your home, call FRNSW to discuss booking a Safety Visit.

Fire crews will come to your home, ensure smoke detectors are in working order and advise on how to best protect your loved ones.

By Tara CAMPBELL