Firefighters concerned that a third of homes in Maribyrnong engulfed by flames in past year did not have a smoke alarm

FIREFIGHTERS in Melbourne’s west are concerned with the amount of houses that do not have smoke detectors installed.

ALARM bells are ringing with firefighters as almost a third of Maribyrnong homes engulfed in flames in the past year did not have smoke alarms.

The MFB attended 58 residential structure fires in Maribyrnong in the past 12 months and smoke alarms were not installed at 17 of those properties — a figure above the state average.

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE BLAZE AT HOME IN MARIBYRNONG

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE BLAZE AT OLD MUNITIONS FACTORY SITE

Statistics showed the number of house fires in Maribyrnong without a smoke alarm had almost tripled in the past two years. House fires at properties that did not have a smoke alarm started from discarded cigarettes, electrical faults and cooking. One of the incidents was at a double-storey home in Cedar Drive, Maribyrnong, in August last year. The home was destroyed and 40 firefighters were needed to control the blaze.

According to MFB western district assistant chief Guy McCrorie, smoke alarms were crucial because they provided the first alert of a blaze.

“It’s very concerning that numerous residential houses and premises don’t have a working smoke alarm or they don’t have a smoke alarm present at all,” he said. “It puts residents in a dangerous position ... smoke alarms are a lifesaving device.”

Research showed people were four times more likely to die and 26 per cent more likely to suffer serious injuries if a fire occurred and a smoke alarm was not present.

On average, 20 people in Victoria die in house fires each year.

Smoke alarm legislation was first introduced in Victoria in 1997. However, the MFB fears some households may be relying on smoke alarms that are more than two decades old.

All smoke alarms — whether hardwired or battery operated — have a 10-year lifespan and should be replaced after this period.

MFB community resilience director Martin Braid urged people to get into the habit of changing their smoke alarm batteries at the end of daylight savings.

“If you’re unsure of the age of your smoke alarm, you should replace it,” Mr Braid said.