Safeguard your sleeping spaces

PREPARED: Masterton Fire Service station officer Doug Flowerday is urging the installation of home smoke alarms. Pictured are Richard King (left), Doug Flowerday, Murray Pike and Andy Simpson. Photo / LYNDA FERINGA

Firefighters are warning Wairarapa householders in the lead up to Christmas to ensure working smoke alarms are safeguarding all sleeping spaces - bedrooms, sleepouts, caravans, lounge rooms, and garages.

The death of Masterton father Archie Ormsby junior in a blaze that erupted in his Cameron Crescent sleepout on October 2 had been the first fire-related fatality in Wairarapa for 18 years, Masterton Fire Service station officer Doug Flowerday said.

The tragic death of Mr Ormsby highlighted the need for smoke alarms in homes wherever people may be living or sleeping, he said, especially with the mounting prevalence of alternative sleeping and living arrangements and the prospect of holiday guests staying over during the Christmas break. "We need to focus on reminding people that alternative living and sleeping areas need smoke alarms as well, and with Christmas coming there may be even more need for extended family and friends to be protected in alternative sleeping spaces."

Mr Flowerday said the New Zealand Fire Service offers free home fire safety checks that take about half an hour and include the installation of a long-life battery smoke alarm.

"We've been noticing more and more people living and sleeping in alternative areas in the home, and a lot of those areas are forgotten where smoke alarms are concerned, and those arrangements often increase over Christmas."

Mr Flowerday said the free home fire safety check can put at ease the minds of householders who may have alternative sleeping spaces on their properties including caravans, sunrooms, offices, tents or anywhere someone will be sleeping, no matter how temporary.

Piki Thomas, New Zealand Fire Service national Maori adviser, said at least one person dies annually in New Zealand in a fire in a shed, garage, caravan "or other building being used as a bedroom".

"Since 2005, 11 people have died in these types of fires and we found no evidence that any had smoke alarms installed. In some cases, the fires were quite small but the available oxygen was used up quickly and toxic gas was generated, leading to death." Smoke alarms in a sleepout can alert family or friends living at the property, or neighbours, where fire breaks out, Mr Thomas said.

"Having a smoke alarm in a sleepout significantly improves someone's chances of getting out alive if there's a fire," he said.

"Using a garage as a sleepout is a common practice for extended family and teenagers as a low cost rental option, and garages are typically open plan where fires grow quickly, often fed by stored items like cardboard boxes, furnishings and flammable substances ..."

Each year in New Zealand there are over 300 fires in garages, sleepouts and caravans and in 97 per cent of cases there were no smoke alarms, he said.

To book a free home fire safety check call 0800 NZ FIRE (0800 693 473).