The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has released alarming new figures prompting a warning for locals to install smoke alarms and to check they are in working order.
The figures revealed 75 per cent of deaths caused by home fires last year occurred in properties that were not fitted with working smoke alarms.
Firefighters attended roughly two house fires per day in 2022, and only half of those homes had smoke alarms.
The warning comes ahead of DFES' 'Don’t Be a Fool, Check Your Smoke Alarm' campaign which coincides with April Fools’ Day each year.
Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM said while the campaign was targeted at regular maintenance, the latest data was concerning.
"Every death that occurs as a result of a fire in the home is a tragedy and we would like to see a working smoke alarm in every home in Western Australia,” Commissioner Klemm said.
“Most home fires that result in injury or death occur in the middle of the night when people are asleep.
"Fire can destroy a home in just minutes and the smell of smoke won’t wake you, so it’s critical to have an early warning and give yourself a chance to evacuate before it’s too late.
"This weekend is a reminder that smoke alarm maintenance is no joke – if you don’t have them, get them installed and ensure you test them every year.”
While research shows most people understand smoke alarms are a legal requirement in WA, there is a lack of awareness of their responsibility to maintain the unit.
DFES urges residents to change their smoke alarm battery every year if it has a replaceable battery, test it every month by pressing the ‘test’ button and clean it twice a year with a vacuum cleaner to remove cobwebs and dust.
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