For the 9th consecutive year, CFA members have taken part in the annual Midsumma Pride March.

The March, which runs as part of the Midsumma Festival, is an opportunity to proudly demonstrate the CFA’s commitment and support to the LGBTQAI+ community and to reaffirm its position as an inclusive and welcoming organisation. 

A number of CFA members took part in the event alongside emergency service colleagues, marching to support their LGBTQAI+ colleagues, friends and family members. 

CFA General Manager – Infrastructure Services Paul Santamaria was one of these participants.  

“CFA is a leading organisation in the community, and being a leader in our organisation means it’s important to show how CFA works to embrace and include all members of CFA and the communities we serve,” he said. 

“We’re made up of so many different people from so many different identities and it’s so important to make CFA a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.” 

Paul said events such as Midsumma Pride March are a great opportunity to learn and network. 

“Taking part in events such as these are a great way to meet people from across the state, and also from our emergency services partner organisations,” he said. 

“It’s really important to me that I continue to learn from people with different identities, backgrounds and histories – it makes us a more inclusive organisation.” 

Paul said everyone can work toward creating a safer and more inclusive CFA by being willing to learn. 

“We can be better allies to the LGBTQAI+ community by being willing to listen and engage, being willing to have a conversation and learn a bit more than you didn’t know the day before. 

“It helps you develop as a person and helps you to build a shared learning and understanding, and helps others feel supported and included.” 

Participation in the inaugural Vols on Hols program is off to a flying start with 20 visiting CFA members registering and participating in the program to date.

Vols on Hols is a pilot program being trialled in Mallacoota in far east Gippsland with the aim to bolster volunteer numbers over the busy summer period.

Deputy Chief Officer for South East Region Trevor Owen said they’ve had good numbers since launching the program and have additional capacity up to 30 January.

“With school holidays coming to an end, we have a gap from 1 to 17 February which we are currently promoting to be filled but fortunately from the 18 Feb until the end of March the numbers pick back up again,” DCO Owen said.

The program was launched in November last year with Mallacoota being chosen as the trial site. The population of the remote coastal town can swell by up to 10,000 visitors during peak season and the area was severely impacted during the 2019-20 bushfire season.

“If you’re a CFA volunteer on holiday in Mallacoota this summer, the local brigade wants to hear from you,” DCO Owen said.

Warragul Fire Brigade member Danielle Watkins was one of the volunteers who happened to be holidaying in Mallacoota this summer and decided to put her name down for the program.

“It was a bit of a fluke actually. We don’t normally go to Mallacoota on holidays but my husband suggested it and I said yep let’s go to Mallacoota,” Danielle said. 

“I happened to be doing a training program with Tracey (Captain of Mallacoota Fire Brigade) at the time. I mentioned to her that I was coming down to Mallacoota and she said, ‘bring your gear!'”

The CFA is encouraging brigades across the state to compete in next month’s CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships.

Mooroopna Recreation Reserve will again be the site of the events with the Urban Junior State Championships kicking off on 16 and 17 March. The Senior Urban and Senior Rural events will be held at the same site the following weekend, 23 and 24 March. 

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the State Championships have a rich tradition and are an integral part of CFA. 

“The Championships are a great opportunity for our members to engage in some friendly competition with their brigade and fellow firefighters,” CO Heffernan said. 

“It’s also a great way for the community to see what we do and hopefully we can inspire them to join their local brigades. 

“I highly recommend brigades get involved in the event which includes practical firefighting activities utilising hoses, hydrants and other equipment. It’s also fantastic for teamwork and comradeship.” 

Hannah Logie from Strathmerton Fire Brigade, who has competed in the State Championships for the past eight years, encourages other brigades to take part because she says it’s the best two weekends of the year. 

“I have been competing since I was 11 years old and my whole family has been involved over the years too,” Hannah said.  

“It’s a great event because you make friends, you get fit and most importantly, you have a good laugh. 

“What I love most is the people I’m around all day, it’s a really close-knit group. If you’re considering joining, just do it, it’s the best fun.” 

Interested brigades need to register by 18 February 2024. Nominations are online via the VFBV website.

The CFA is encouraging the wider Victorian community to get along to today’s annual Open Day at Government House.

CFA members will be at the event to share important fire safety information. There will also be a a CFA mobile education unit and Epping tanker on display to explore.

It’s a chance to discover the beautiful heritage site and meet Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, the 30th Governor of Victoria and Patron of CFA.

Today’s Government House Open Day is a free community event where the house and grounds are open for people to explore, and an opportunity for community organisations to showcase what they have to offer.

There will also be a range of activities and displays on the day, including: 

• free children’s activities 
• self-guided tours of the State Apartments 
• roving entertainment 
• food and beverage vendors 
• sports and community activities.

Gates open at 10.30am and close at 3.30pm. 

Victorian fire agencies are reminding residents to be cautious when charging lithium-ion battery operated devices following an e-scooter house fire in Wendouree earlier this month.

The two-storey townhouse was protected by CFA and FRV crews who arrived quickly, after occupants removed themselves safely due to working smoke alarms.

Wendouree Fire Brigade Lieutenant Kenneth Mitchell said an e-scooter was on charge at the time of the call, Friday January 12, and exploded inside the kitchen and dining area.

“We arrived on scene and immediately removed the hazard from the house to stop the spread in a timely manner, and thankfully were able to halt the fire extending to the house,” Kenneth said.

“These devices can go off quite quickly and violently, so the best way to deal with them is to call Triple Zero at your earliest convenience. A fire extinguisher can be used in the first instance too. 

“For firefighters, the only way crews can alleviate the issue is to remove the hazard from the structure and then place it in a bucket of water to cool it down.

“Once in the water it can pose a risk of off gassing, which is the spread of dangerous substances from inside the battery that can be let out when it catches fire.”

The e-scooter scare is a wake-up call for residents right across Victoria, with Victorian fire services responding to lithium-ion battery fires almost every day.

Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Community Safety Kieran Lenehan said Victorians who are considering buying a product with rechargeable batteries should only buy from reputable suppliers and only use chargers supplied with the device.

“When lithium-ion batteries are damaged, misused or fail to meet compliance standards, they pose a serious fire risk, particularly while they are connected to chargers,” ACFO Lenehan said.

“We’re now seeing an increase in the uptake of e-scooters and e-bikes, power tools and general charging devices, so residents must remember to always enact the appropriate safety measures.

“Do not overcharge electric devices, only charge them when required and the safest option is to switch them off overnight before you go to bed. We recommend charging them in the garage, on their own power point.”

CFA Lieutenant Mitchell said that he had noticed that within the district people were plugging too many items into power boards, which can cause them to overheat and catch fire.

While it is the first in the Wendouree region for quite some time, Victorians should not become complacent as they can arise at any time.

CFA firefighters who have recently been deployed in Queensland to support the flood and storm clean-up have spoken about the devastation to affected communities.

More than 40 CFA volunteers were deployed to south-east Queensland on 30 December alongside 70 other emergency management personnel. 

Devastating and dangerous floods and storms impacted the area on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.   

Victorian CFA crews travelled to Helensvale near the Gold Coast to undertake tree removal and temporary roof repairs, with members specialising in chainsaw operations and working at heights.  

Bayswater CFA Captain Jamie McFarlane, who was one of the members deployed, said there was a huge amount of damage to houses. 

“A lot of locals are working together to fix some of it but the ongoing work is going to take months to clean up,” he said. 

Crews from VICSES and CFA alongside NSW SES have teamed up to help, with ongoing storms making the clean-up harder.  

“It’s still a dynamic situation and the weather is still impacting the area, at times we have to move to safety to allow the storms to pass,” Jamie said. 

“It’s devastating for the towns and local communities affected but we will continue to do as much as we can while we’re here.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said his thoughts were with those affected communities. 

“Ongoing conditions are challenging in Queensland but I’m glad our crews are able to lend a hand,” he said. 

“Our crews are working as a contingent with VICSES which has been seamless. The two agencies have common training at working with heights, which has been invaluable for this deployment. 

“Thank you to everyone involved in the deployments, as well as those who remain behind to continue to protect our communities.” 

This taskforce arrived back on New Years Day and another deployment took off on January 2.

During summer the population of some small towns can grow to ten times or more their normal size. Here’s how three brigades are currently dealing with the increased fire risk.

Bright Fire Brigade

Nestled in the heart of north-east Victoria, Bright has a huge surge of tourists during the summer months. Its population can increase from about 3,000 to more than 20,000 overnight as visitors pour in.

“Visitors are drawn to the picturesque landscapes and engaging events and festivals that the area has to offer,” Bright Fire Brigade Captain Brad Drennan said.

However, the vibrant energy and influx of tourists coexists with summer fire risks.

“Our region faces challenges such as dry weather, dense vegetation and occasionally extreme temperatures. These factors create a potent mix that demands vigilance and preparedness.”

To tackle these risks head on, Bright brigade focuses on building strong partnerships with local community groups, Alpine Shire Council, local emergency services agencies and Forest Fire Management Victoria. It also collaborates with Hancock Victoria Plantations to circulate community safety information to the local community and visitors.

“We have a good partnership with the Bright Chamber of Commerce and have a presence at their monthly market in town, ‘Make It, Bake It, Grow It’,” Brad said. “This gives us an opportunity to interact with and educate both locals and tourists about summer fire safety, the bushfire risks in the area, what the various community sirens mean, the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, and the importance of planning and preparing.”

“There’s only one road in and one road out of Bright, so it’s really important that visitors are aware and plan accordingly.

“We also visit the caravan parks over summer to ensure they have the current AFDRS displayed.

“Ensuring the safety of our community, including the tourist population who enjoy our town, is our top priority. Our collaboration with our partners amplifies our efforts, making our town resilient and safe, even in the face of summer fire risks.

“We continue to work tirelessly, hand in hand with the community and emergency services. We stand steadfast to ensure Bright remains not just a beautiful destination, but also a safe holiday destination for all.”

Lorne Fire Brigade

Lorne, a popular seaside town on the south-west coast, grows from about 1,300 to more than 15,000 during summer. Lorne Fire Brigade Captain Lee Hollmer and District 7 Commander Wayne Aylmer take a proactive approach to the increased risk and carry out a range of initiatives every year to help ensure everyone stays safe.

“In our busy summer period the town hosts the Pier to Pub swimming race in mid-January and that can add an extra 4,000 to 5,000 visitors on top of the 15,000,” Lee said.

From Boxing Day to the middle of January Lorne brigade receives additional support from volunteer structural firefighters from up to 12 brigades in the south west. These volunteers arrive in the early morning and leave in the evening. They respond to incidents along the coast, but their primary role is to support Lorne brigade during the busy period.

“Every day during this period, we get four or five volunteers and an additional pumper. It’s a massive boost to our brigade and relieves our crews who need to run businesses or work in hospitality.”

District 7 set up the summer crewing initiative after the Wye River fire in 2015 to give local firefighters respite. Initially, career CFA firefighters supported Lorne, and then after Fire Services Reform it switched to support from volunteers.

“Potentially, members could leave CFA if we ask too much of them. This summer crewing initiative supports Lorne brigade and makes it more sustainable,” Wayne said.

“Other volunteers assisting us with the majority of structural incidents allows us to support Lorne SES and neighbouring brigades with rescues and car accidents on the Great Ocean Road,” Lee said. “It also means on Total Fire Ban days we can work with FFMVic to check on campgrounds and illegal campfires in the Otways, and support our group with strike team requirements.

“We regularly drive through caravan parks to make sure there’s enough room for a fire truck and we visit them on days when the Fire Danger Rating is high.

“We also support the PAVS [Property Advice Visit Service] team which sets up in different parts of the town to engage tourists. We talk to real estate businesses and give them fire safety information and we also use social media to pass on safety advice.”

Yarrawonga Fire Brigade

Situated on the Murray River, Yarrawonga normally has a population of about 8,500 but there’s been extensive growth in tourism in the past 10 years as people enjoy the climate, boating, fishing, golf and forest walks.

“I reckon the population between here and Cobram goes up to about 20,000 in summer,” Yarrawonga Fire Brigade Captain Cade Phillips said. “It gets that busy on campsites it’s almost as if people are camping on top of each other.”

Before the fire season Cade visits bush areas with Parks Victoria staff to assess fuel loads.

“The river backs onto farmland, so we practise our skills to protect assets,” Cade said. “People have to be wary when they are near the riverbanks because of the high fuel loads.”

Cade is pleased that most tourists behave responsibly and know the fire risks.

“They are aware of what’s happened in the past and they are proactive rather than reactive. But in the summer, we still get four or five turnouts a week to unattended campfires or grass and scrub fires that can spread quickly.

“We’re usually pretty quick to respond to an incident, and some campers help by starting to put out the fire. Although most people do the right thing, there are people who light fires in dangerous places and some people drive their four-wheel drives through long grass.”

The brigade has 20 operational members, a heavy tanker and a light tanker, and they usually have no problem getting a full crew out to incidents.

This year, the brigade attended the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Agricultural Show at the beginning of October to pass on fire safety messages. As well as taking a truck, the brigade borrowed the district’s information trailer which contains CFA’s fire safety leaflets.

Words and Image: CFA

Before hitting the roads to travel this summer, Victorians should check local conditions, download the VicEmergency app and familiarise themselves with Fire Danger Ratings, the CFA has warned.

Recent conditions have resulted in significant grass growth across the state, with fuel loads quickly drying out in the western and central parts.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan is reminding Victorians that if they are travelling or holidaying across the state this summer to make sure they are fire ready.   

“We encourage our communities to be well-prepared as they head off on their well-earned break or festive getaway with their friends and family,” CO Heffernan said.

“Fire safety is a shared responsibility so Victorians cannot become complacent about the fire risk this season.

“Stay informed, be prepared, and pack some essential items like water, blankets, and protective clothing so you’re ready to leave when you need to.”

CO Heffernan said there is a simple checklist to follow to ensure you are safe to travel.

“It’s important to be aware of the weather conditions, Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Ban declarations in the areas you are travelling through each day this summer,” CO Heffernan said.

“It’s a good idea to download the VicEmergency app, check the CFA website and listen to local radio for warnings and updates.

“Within the app you can set up watch zones for the location you’re visiting, that way you will receive a notification for any fires or other emergency incidents in that area.” 

Should conditions change, Victorians should be prepared to alter their travel plans.

“On hot, dry and windy days, have a back-up location  to visit that is not in a high-risk bushfire area,” CO Heffernan said.

“If you’re staying in a high-risk bushfire area, the safest option is to leave the night before or early in the day on a Catastrophic or Extreme day.

“We know grassfires can move at speeds of up to 25km per hour, faster than you can run, and can jump highways in the right conditions – so we need everyone to be well alert.”

Victorians should reconsider travel on days of Extreme Fire Danger Rating and those camping and hosting barbecues must be aware of what they can and can’t do during a Total Fire Ban day.

“Check CFA’s Can I, Can’t I? guide on our website for more information to ensure you are protecting yourselves and your families,” CO Heffernan said.

“If you plan to have a campfire this summer, check the conditions, always have a person near it and fully extinguish it with water before leaving or going to bed.

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet of helicopters, air tankers and planes are ready to take to the skies and protect Victorians this fire season, with new additions to the fleet.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes and Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent joined aerial crews and firefighting staff at Melbourne Avalon Airport earlier this month to unveil and inspect the fleet. 

A total of 51 firefighting aircraft makes up the fleet – more than last year’s contingent. The fleet includes a mix of firebombing aircraft, air attack supervision and airborne information gathering aircraft. 

The new addition to Victoria’s base fleet is a second Aircrane, a high-capacity Type 1 helicopter with the capacity to carry 10,000 litres of water and pick up seawater.  

Two Large Air Tankers return to Victoria, which can operate from smaller regional airports as they require less room for take-off and landing, making them more agile to move around the state as the fire risk changes. 

A Super Puma firebombing helicopter with a capacity of 2,500 litres leads the night operations program, with its ability to fight fires into the night.  

Victoria also has a surge capacity of up to 100 aircraft that can supplement the core fleet and can be called upon when needed. 

The aircraft are an important support service for the tens of thousands of dedicated emergency services workers from the CFA, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, VICSES and many other agencies. 

It complements the thousands of hardworking volunteers and trucks on the ground who are ready to turn out to fires this summer, protecting their communities. 

Lakes Entrance Fire Brigade has this month celebrated the official handover of their new rescue truck which will boost the members’ response to road crash rescue incidents.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh MP, joined District 11 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Daryll Hunter, Lakes Entrance Captain Philip Loukes and brigade members for the handover. 

The new $850,000 rescue truck was funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) as part of an ongoing funding arrangement. 

CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Specialist Response Rick Owen said the new rescue truck has state-of-the-art features including emission free stowage, battery operated tools, increased capacity for heavy vehicle response with a rescue work platform and increased ability to carry a full steep angle cache. 

“These new technology and equipment on these rescue trucks makes them one of the best in Australia so we’re lucky to add these to our CFA fleet,” ACFO Owen said. 

“Lakes Entrance Fire Brigade responds to more than 120 call-outs per year, nearly half of those are rescues so it’s easy to see the need to ensure this brigade has the most up-to-date equipment to help protect their community.” 

CFA Lakes Entrance Captain Philip Loukes said they’re excited to have the new rescue truck because of the diverse callouts and the large area they cover. 

“We respond to rescues across Gippsland and the Alpine region, we do road accident rescues, rope rescues and rescues of cars that might have gone down an embankment, so it’s vital we have skills and best possible equipment to boost our ability in this space,” Philip said. 

“This new rescue truck will enable us to continue providing a high-quality service to the community for a wide range of emergency incidents.” 

Lakes Entrance is one of 21 CFA rescue brigades across the state. Brigade members undertake consistent rescue training to keep their skills at a high level to ensure the brigade can continue to service their growing community, particularly over the holiday periods being a popular tourist destination.  

The Lakes Entrance rescue truck is one of four being made as part of the $4.2 million TAC funding package. 

Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police this month launched their new bushfire campaign ‘You light It, you own It. – any spark can start a fire’.

The campaign asks the community to consider the consequences of their actions and to help prevent fires from occurring during the Fire Danger Period.

It is targeted at both accidental and reckless fires caused on high fire risk days by out-of-control burn-offs, re-ignition from burn-offs, maintenance activities (cutting, grinding, welding, unattended campfires/bonfires), and operation of equipment and machinery including mowers, slashers and tractors.

To help develop the campaign, the CFA Fire Investigation team worked alongside the Victoria Police Arson & Explosives Squad and Crime Stoppers Victoria. This included providing technical information and statistics about causes of fire contained in CFA’s Fire Trend Report on the ‘Causation of vegetation fires during the 2022-23 Fire Danger Period’. 

This fire causation data and statistics from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change was used to develop the messaging. The messaging will be communicated through a range of media, including Eastlink electronic signage.

Further details about the campaign are available on the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.

Phillip Island members have celebrated the new and improved Phillip Island Fire Station at the official opening held last weekend.

The brigade was joined by CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, Deputy Chief Officer South East Trevor Owen and Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale MP, representing the Minister for Emergency Services, at the opening. 

The $3.275 million facility replaces the former station built in 1962, which no longer met the needs of the growing brigade. 

The brigade’s 59 members will enjoy brand new facilities including a large engine bay to house the brigade’s four vehicles, a purpose-built meeting room with training resources, modern kitchen and two offices. 

Phillip Island Captain Lino Drazzi said the new station was “state-of-the-art”. 

“We’re certainly in a location now that is more accessible, especially in the busier times, to get to different parts of the island,” Lino said. 

“We’re also closer to the newer estates which will help protect the local community.” 

Lino, who has been with the brigade for 22 years and Captain since July this year, said Phillip Island brigade had outgrown the old station thanks to a booming membership. 

“Training can now be done onsite which is great for our growing brigade,” he said. 

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said he was pleased to be part of the new station opening in Phillip Island. 

“The station’s new facilities will help this growing brigade continue to volunteer their time protecting lives and property,” CO Heffernan said. 

The original Phillip Island station was in the main street and opened in 1937 before the brigade moved in 1975.   

The new station was jointly funded by the 2019-20 Emergency Services Local Infrastructure Program and the brigade.    

Victorians will now have access to a range of education materials to better understand warnings for bushfires, floods, storms and extreme heat.

The Australian Warning System (AWS) education initiative launched earlier this week, and includes information on different hazard icons, warning levels and action statements to help the community understand what they need to do to stay safe in response to emergencies.

The three warning levels (advice, watch and act and emergency warning) are the same for bushfires, floods, storms and extreme heat.

The community education initiative features well-known ABC presenter, Justine Clarke, and the voice of Chilli from children’s TV show Bluey, Melanie Zanetti. It includes videos, story books, audio books, posters, social media content, radio advertisements.

It has been developed by Emergency Management Victoria, on behalf of Victoria’s emergency services. This follows the national implementation of the Australian Warning System coordinated by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC).

EMV has worked with emergency service agencies to ensure materials are fit for purpose, with a key focus on distribution across the state – particularly in high-risk areas.

As Victorians fill their stockings this festive season, firefighters are urging caution about popular Christmas gifts.

Fire Rescue Victoria Acting Deputy Commissioner Gavin Rooney said he was expecting that many items under the tree this year would contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries – which could pose a fire risk.

“Lithium-ion batteries can be found in everything from e-bikes and e-scooters to toys, power tools and phones,” Deputy Commissioner Rooney said.

“While these products make our lives easier and have many positive environmental and social impacts, they occasionally can and do catch alight, especially if overcharged or not treated properly.”

“In the past three months, Victorian firefighters have been responding to lithium-ion battery fires almost every day, and this trend is only expected to increase as more rechargeable batteries make their way into our homes.”

“Within the past month, in fact, FRV firefighters attended three major house fires across Melbourne linked to e-bikes and e-bike chargers.”

“In each case, the properties were significantly damaged or destroyed by the fires, and it is lucky that nobody was injured.”

“It is crucial that people only buy products from reputable suppliers, use the charger supplied with the device and charge items outdoors or in rooms with smoke alarms.”

Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Paul Carrigg said it was important people never modified or tampered with their battery, as this could cause it to overheat.

“Lithium-ion batteries are energy-dense and contain chemicals,” ACFO Carrigg said. “When these batteries overheat they can release toxic and highly flammable gases.”

“Stop using or charging the product if you notice strong odours, extreme heat, change in shape, leaking or unusual sounds. Leave the area and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.”

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery safety tips:

• Purchase products from reputable suppliers. 
• Only use chargers and cords that are supplied with the device. 
• Don’t modify or tamper with the batteries and the appliances they power. 
• Don’t leave batteries charging in direct sunlight or for longer than they need to.
• Only charge batteries on non-combustible surfaces in a room where a smoke alarm is present. 
• Don’t use batteries or devices that show signs of swelling, bulging, leaking or overheating.
• Don’t charge items close to a door, which would block your exit if the item did catch fire.

Victorians are once again detangling Christmas lights to brighten up their homes for the festive season, but the holiday cheer comes with a warning from Victorian fire services, cautioning lights need to be checked before use.

The combination of damaged lights, tinsel, paper and Christmas trees can present a fire risk for families. 

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said people should check their Christmas lights are in good working order before they decorate their trees and homes.

“Christmas lights are a favourite past-time for many families, but wear and tear can mean wires can fray, bulbs get damaged, and they aren’t in good working order for the tree or your home,” he said. 

“Turn your lights off before you go to sleep or leave the house to ensure they don’t overheat and consider using battery operated or solar lights that don’t require electricity.” 

Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman AFSM said it was also important that people took care of any Christmas decorations containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

“This year, we expect that many families will be decking the halls with items containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries,” Commissioner Freeman said.

“All we want for Christmas is for people to use these products safely, as we have seen a rise in fires caused by rechargeable batteries of late.

“Only buy products from reputable suppliers, use the charging cords supplied with the device and only charge items outdoors or in rooms with a smoke alarm.”

 Christmas fire safety tips 

• When buying Christmas lights, make sure they have the Regulatory Compliance Mark tick of approval. 
• Consider using battery-operated LED or solar lights which don’t require electricity. 
• Inspect your Christmas lights for any sign of damage or wear and tear. Make sure there’s no exposed wiring and that there are no missing globes. 
• Don’t overload power boards; use no more than three sets of lights per power board, even if there are four or more outlets on it, and avoid using double adaptors. 
• Place your tree as far as possible from any heat source, curtains or furnishings. 
• For further information on lithium-ion battery safety, visit https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/battery-safety