Bill Rackham wants people to remain vigilant over summer. Photo / File
A senior fire officer is warning families to take their safety awareness with them on holiday this summer.
Tauranga fire safety risk management officer Bill Rackham said too many people forgot or overlooked basic fire safety while taking a break. "If you're planning to rent a bach this summer, ask if it has smoke alarms first," he said. "If you're going to stay in a caravan or sleep-out, it won't take much to pick up a couple of smoke alarms on the way."
Mr Rackham also warned people against overcrowding rooms because it was hard to escape if mattresses were laid in front of entrance ways. "Going on holiday isn't the time to forget fire safety, including basics like having smoke alarms, minimising fire hazards and having planned escape routes.
"People are slowly getting the message about doing those things at home but they need to extend them to when they're on holiday and staying in temporary accommodation."
The main cause of house fires was unattended cooking and about a third of those resulted in fatalities, Mr Rackham said.
In many cases, people didn't have smoke alarms or had ones which didn't work.
Western Bay of Plenty has a restricted fire season from October 1 to April 30, meaning people needed council-issued permits before lighting fires. The hot and dry summer ahead meant risks of vegetation fires were probably higher so people needed to be extra careful, Mr Rackham said.
More than 1000 residential fires were attended in Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty during the past five years. "Miscellaneous" fires were the main cause of call-outs, followed by structure fires and vegetation fires.
Miscellaneous fires were typically out-of-control outside fires, such as barbecues, bonfires, camp fires, gas cookers and rubbish fires.
Nationally, more than 16,000 residential fires were attended in the past five years.
The number of callouts was highest in the 2010 to 2011 financial year, at 3869.
Every other year, except 2011/12, there were more than 3000 reported callouts.
New Zealand Fire Service spokesman Peter Riordan said the apparent 2011/12 drop was due to industrial action by career firefighters, when about a third of incident reports were not completed.
Weather forecasters predict high fire risk conditions this summer such as dry winds, especially in eastern regions.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) predicted a 75 per cent chance of El Nino weather developing by February 2015.
An El Nino - an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific - was typically associated with stronger or more frequent winds that led to drier conditions in the east of New Zealand and more rain in the west.
Across the country, temperatures were expected to be average or above average from now until February.
The Fire Service advised people to be aware of the conditions and check with local authorities before lighting outdoor fires, including bonfires on beaches and any non-gas barbecues, Mr Riordan said.
Caravan owners needed to ensure smoke alarms were installed that were detachable when cooking. Velcro was the best way of fixing a smoke alarm to a caravan ceiling.
Residents were also encouraged to get their homes safety checked by the Fire Service.
- Tauranga residents can register their party at partysignup.co.nz.
The police will be notified and a free survival pack sent out. People can also ring 0800 693 473 to book a home fire safety check.
What do you think?
Have your say below or email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz, go to our facebook page, text 021 241 4568 BOP (message) or write to Private Bag 12002.
Response may be published.