Keeping North Canterbury Fire Safe
Have a plan for your household
I am the Community Risk Manager for Canterbury Fire and Emergency. With more than 30 years of service with the New Zealand Police, I was seconded to Fire and Emergency in September last year. My team is made up of Risk Reduction and Community Readiness and Recovery advisors. Our focus is on working with our communities to make them safer when it comes to fire risk, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing. Our focus is on working with our communities to make them safer when it comes to fire risk.
The work is varied. It includes delivering Firewise and other safety programmes for schools, practical fire safety education at events, working with building owners and architects on building fire safety requirements, advising on fire evacuation schemes, issuing fire permits, talking to communities about the risk of wildfire, investigating fires and more.
There are a few simple, routine things people can do to protect themselves and their families; check your home’s smoke alarms, make a household escape plan and then practice it.
Daylight saving starts on 3 April and this is a good time to check your smoke alarms are working. A working smoke alarm will save your life. Checking is easy and should be done twice a year. Just push the button on each of your smoke alarm. If you hear the beep, you know it is ready to protect you.
Make sure you’ve got your home covered. We recommend you have an alarm in every bedroom, living area and hallway. As well as getting an early warning of fire from your smoke alarms, it’s important to have a plan for all your household to get out to safety quickly. In a house fire you have less than three minutes to get out alive. The thick black smoke which makes it hard to see, hear and think clearly, will also kill you.
Making an escape plan takes just three steps. 1 – plan your main escape route. 2 – plan a second escape route in case your normal exit is blocked. 3 – agree on a safe meeting place for you and your household safely away from the house.
You can make your 3-step escape plan at www.escapemyhouse.co.nz.
Written by
By Dean Harker
