Take home fire safety seriously.
That’s the message from Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell after a busy 2024 winter, during which 1,001 house fires caused 12 preventable deaths across the state.1 In Queensland, around 1,000 families experience an accidental house fire each year.2
“In almost half of all fires we attend each winter, there is no smoke alarm, or it is not in working order,” says Commissioner Fewtrell.
“These figures are very sobering and should be a wake-up call for people to take home fire safety seriously.”
In this article, you’ll find ways to improve your home fire safety to help keep your loved ones and belongings safe in the event of a fire in your home – or outside your home. You’ll find useful resources, plus information on home insurance in relation to house fires.
So what are the most common causes of a house fire?
Fire services in both NSW and Victoria report that in 2024, most house fires broke out in kitchens as a result of “human activity” – such as unattended cooking.1,3 However, according to Commissioner Fewtrell, the increase in house fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is of particular concern.
Between January 2023 and March 2024, fire services across Australia reported more than 1,000 house fires started by lithium-ion batteries.4 These batteries are commonly found in e-bikes and e-scooters, smartphones, power tools, vacuums and other home appliances.4
South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service Community Engagement Officer Phil Evans says these fires were almost always caused by people using incompatible or non-genuine batteries or chargers, building their own batteries and chargers, or overcharging batteries.5
What’s the simplest way to boost my home fire safety?
It is mandatory for Australian homes to have functioning smoke alarms – not having them in working order can increase the possibility of a fatal house fire by 60%.6
Find out what the legal requirements are for smoke alarms in your state or territory here:
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority recommends that every family develops a home fire escape plan and practises it. Your plan should include two ways to escape each room of the house, and a designated safe meeting point.7
A room-by-room guide to home fire safety
While smoke alarms may increase your chance of escaping a house fire unharmed, there are simple precautions you can take to help limit the chances of a fire sparking in the first place.
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) has compiled a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts to help improve fire safety throughout your home. The list includes the following:8
Kitchen:
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Keep flammable liquids and items such as tea towels and oven mitts away from the stove.
- Keep the oven, stovetop and rangehood filters clean and clear of grease.
- When cooking, heat cooking oils slowly and control any splatter.
- Turn off hotplates and ovens when you have finished cooking and before you leave the room.
- Place fire safety equipment such as a fire blanket or extinguisher between the stove and the exit.8
Living areas:
- Have old or heavily used appliances, such as air conditioners and fans, checked regularly by a qualified tradesperson.
- Keep appliances clean and free of dust by vacuuming filters regularly.
- Keep everything at least two metres away from heaters and fireplaces.
- Always turn off your heater or extinguish your fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Clean chimneys and flues every year.
- Keep candles and oil burners away from anything flammable.8
Bedroom – electric blankets:
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Have your electric blanket checked regularly by a qualified electrician.
- Make sure the electric blanket is tightly secured and laid flat on the bed.
- Turn off the electric blanket when you go to bed or leave the house.8
Laundry:
- Don’t overload the washing machine or clothes dryer beyond capacity.
- Clean the lint filter in your clothes dryers after every load.
- Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use.
- Don’t overload power points or power boards.
- Ensure there’s proper ventilation and air space around the clothes dryer.
- After use, unplug the iron and place it out of reach of children and pets to avoid burn injuries.8
Outdoors:
- Make sure your street number is easily visible at day and night for emergency services.8
- Fully extinguish cigarettes and don't leave lit cigarettes unattended.
- To help you prepare your home, property and family for bushfire, you can also find a selection of guides, articles and videos at our bushfire preparedness hub.
What services are available to improve my home’s fire safety?
Are you concerned your home isn’t as fire safe as it needs to be? While it may be helpful to duck out and buy fire blankets and fire extinguishers, some states and territories offer house fire prevention programs that won’t cost you a cent. Here’s what’s available:
New South Wales
Book a free FRNSW Safety Visit to ensure you have working smoke alarms installed in suitable areas of your home. Firefighters will also give personalised fire safety advice during an inspection of your property.9
Queensland
The QFD offers free home visits through its Safehome program to help you eliminate fire and safety hazards around your home. If you live in an area serviced by a volunteer fire brigade, firefighters can’t visit but you can have a Safehome kit delivered.10
South Australia
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service offers Home Fire Safety Presentations to community groups such as Neighbourhood Watch, sporting clubs, multicultural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, seniors, schools and new arrivals.11
Tasmania
Tasmania Fire Service collaborates with aged, community and disability services to deliver its Fire Safe at Home initiative. Participation in the program is by referral so those who are most at risk can access help with identifying fire hazards in and around the home and then eliminating risks as much as possible.12
Victoria
Targeted programs that reduce fire risk are available through Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), although home visits are not offered. FRV can be engaged by community groups to present home fire safety sessions for adult migrants, children and seniors.13
How is fire covered by home insurance?
If your home is damaged or destroyed by a fire, home insurance could be a lifeline that helps you get back on your feet. Most home and contents insurance covers you for damage caused by fire, including bushfire.14
Youi home insurance policies include cover for loss or damage to insured property caused by bushfire or accidental fire, as well as soot or smoke.15
According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, up to 80% of Australian home owners are underinsured.16 To avoid being one of them, you might want to consider starting a quote with Youi for home insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped.
1 Source: Fire and Rescue NSW – Community urged to remain vigilant about home fire safety, September 2024
2 Source: Qld Fire Department – Plan to survive, November 2024
3 Source: Fire and Rescue Victoria – Home fire prevention, September 2024
4 Source: ABC News – Lithium-ion batteries caused more than 1,000 fires during the past year in Australia, March 2024
5 Source: SA Metropolitan Fire Service – $7M in house fire damage linked to lithium-ion battery misuse, June 2023
6 Source: SA Country Fire Service – Home fire safety & prevention
7 Source: Vic Country Fire Authority – Home Fire Safety Checklist, August 2024
8 Source: Qld Fire Department – Indoor fire safety, August 2024
9 Source: Fire and Rescue NSW – Safety Visits
10 Source: Qld Fire Department – Safehome, May 2024
11 Source: SA Metropolitan Fire Service – Home Fire Safety Presentations
12 Source: Tas Fire Service – Fire Safe At Home
13 Source: Fire Rescue Vic – Community, September 2024
14 Source: Moneysmart – Storm, floor and fire insurance
15 Conditions and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS.
16 Source: Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Is Your Home At Risk Of Underinsurance?, June 2021
