House fire spike in Yarra Ranges as cold nights hit

House fire spike in Yarra Ranges as cold nights hit

THE CFA is urging Yarra Ranges residents to be extra vigilant as crews deal with a spike in winter house fires caused by heaters, open fires and electrical faults.

Already this year CFA District 13 crews, which cover the Yarra Ranges, have attended 22 house fires, the most recent in Mt Evelyn last Wednesday when an unguarded open fireplace led to a mudbrick house being destroyed.

This follows another Mt Evelyn fire in Hazel St on June 26, when a kitchen caught alight after oil was left on an unattended stove.

Earlier this year, a faulty fan caused a fire that destroyed the top storey of a Mooroolbark house.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said while leaving cooking unattended was still one of the main causes of house fires, the CFA had seen an increase in the number of fires caused by heaters, open fires and electrical faults.

Of the 320 residential fires CFA has attended between June 1 and July 18, 31 per cent started in the kitchen, 15 per cent in the lounge and 10 per cent in the bedroom.

Test how safe your home is at homefiresafety.com.au or phone 1800 799 203.

8 Aug 12 @ 05:00am by ELAINE PHELAN