Tragedy spurs family smoke alarm project

Fire officers Shane Dudley (left) and Jason Rattray, with some of the fire safety kits to be distributed to Durie Hill residents thanks to Ellen Newland's family. Photo/Bevan Conley

The death of a Wanganui mother a year ago has spurred her family to help finance a fire safety campaign.

The family of Ellen Newland, who died in an electrical fire at her Durie Hill home last December 11, have come forward to work with the New Zealand Fire Service to promote fire safety.

Fire risk management officer Shane Dudley said Ms Newland's family wanted to pay for advertising about smoke alarms and fire safety to coincide with the first anniversary of her death, and had generously donated just over 100 smoke alarms to be distributed to Durie Hill residents.

Mr Dudley said the smoke alarm in Ms Newland's home went off for two hours before the first 111 call was received.

"They're becoming like car alarms, or the burglar alarms you may hear on your street. People just don't do anything about it.

"This campaign is all about reinforcing that if you hear a smoke alarm, call 111 and tell us," Mr Dudley said.

Special kits including a 10-year long-life smoke alarm and a booklet on fire safety will also be available. Senior Fire Fighter Jason Rattray said the duty crew at the Whanganui Fire Station would deliver and install the alarms, as well as provide a free home fire safety check.

"We check things like multiboxes, testing any existing smoke alarms. It's all fine and good having a smoke alarm but if it has no battery, they won't do much good," he said.

"You only have to visit a school and ask the kids who has a smoke alarm in their house to see there are lots of homes in Wanganui without one."

Everyone in the city was invited to call 0800 NZ FIRE (0800 69 3473) and inquire about the kits and organise a free home fire safety check, Mr Dudley said. The campaign begins on December 11.