Shocking data shows Whittlesea homes without lifesaving tool

Damning new statistics reveal almost half of Melbourne homes devastated by fire last year did not have a working smoke alarm. And firefighters in one northern suburbs area are worried after many homes they attended didn’t have one at all.

Thomastown firefighters Gary Cronin, Geoff Hannah, Terry Holborn and Steve Mundy. Picture: Sarah Matray

Shocking Melbourne Fire Brigade statistics have revealed almost half of the Whittlesea homes involved in fire call-outs last year did not have working smoke alarms.

Of the 40 Whittlesea homes fire crews were called to last year, just 25 had alarms — and only 16 of those worked, the statistics showed.

HOUSE FIRE STARTED BY BOY WAS 'HONEST MISTAKE'

SMOKE ALARM COMPLIANCE MISTAKE

ALARM OVER FIRE FINDINGS

Across Melbourne, the MFB went to 1572 house fires in 2018 — 51 per cent of homes did not having a working smoke alarm, and 193 homes had no detector at all.

MFB acting deputy chief officer of community resilience Adam Dalrymple said the figures were worrying.

Leading Senior Firefighter Terry Holborn fits a smoke alarm.

“This is a real concern; smoke alarms should be installed in bedrooms and all living areas,” he said.

It was important people pushed their smoke alarm button once a month to test it was still working, Mr Dalrymple said.

Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Of the 13 fires at Bundoora, eight homes had smoke alarms, but only five were in working order.

Five of the nine house fires at Thomastown had working smoke alarms.

Seven of the 11 Lalor homes that had fires had smoke alarms, but only two of the alarms worked.