Residents are being reminded to check their smoke alarms are in working order as Daylight Savings comes to an end this weekend. The shout-out comes as the local fire brigade partners up with Legacy once again to visit widows’ homes and make sure everything is in working order.
“We’ve got 58 widows or dependents we like to look after their wellbeing in their own house, which means we want to keep them safe with anything they need,” Legacy Secretary Treasurer, Mark Winen, told the Barrier Truth.
“We’re very lucky with the fire station. All these guys are on board to come and check [the widows’] smoke alarms to make sure they’re working during the winter times. They’ll test them, they’ll make sure they work, if they’re not working properly, they’ll replace them. That way they’re safe.
“We know that through wintertime is when you put your heaters on. Any cords and all that, [the firefighters] check that you haven’t got overloaded power points and things like that. It’s a safety check for the house to make sure they’re safe in their own home.”
With the lifecycle of a smoke alarm just 10 years, Broken Hill Fire and Rescue NSW Station Manager, Dean Scifleet, is urging anyone concerned theirs might be due for an upgrade – or a check – to contact the department.
“One of our mottos at Fire and Rescue NSW, is, ‘only working smoke alarms save lives’. It’s a service we offer to the community which means we’ll come out and do a home fire safety visit in your house. We’ll just go through, check evacuation plans, make sure the smoke detectors are operating properly, and if they’re not, we can install new detectors,” he says.
“One of the little keys we’ve got for remembering to check your smoke alarms is when you change time for daylight savings, check your smoke alarm is functioning, or change your batteries.
“We push that message, and it’s just one of those things with daylight savings coming up and helping Legacy with the service they provide to the Legacy widows, to just get in and conduct fire safety visits.
“While we’re out and about in the community, if you see us, just give us a yell and we’ll come in and conduct fire safety visits.”
To book a home fire safety visit, call Broken Hill Fire and Rescue NSW Station 238 on 8084 6238, or visit the station at 248 Blende St.
