[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Alarm Over Missing Fire Alarms_T Morris MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

CALL FOR HOME FIRE ALARM PROGRAM

Annual Report Shows 1/3 of Domestic Property Fires Occurred Where No
Smoke Alarms Installed

Tim Morris MP
Greens Shadow Police and Emergency Management spokesperson

Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today said that the Tasmanian State Fire Commission
Annual Report 2007/08 revealed that one third of all domestic property
fires occurred in homes that did not have a smoke alarm despite an
estimated 84% of all Tasmanian homes have a working smoke alarm;
demonstrating clearly that there is an urgent need for a government
initiated program to ensure that the remaining homes that do not have an
alarm get one fitted. [i]

Greens Shadow Police and Emergency Management spokesperson Tim Morris MP
said that with one third of all domestic house fires being in homes
without smoke alarms there is still a significant benefit in the
reduction of harm to life and property to be gained by the government
making the installation of smoke alarms as easy as possible for the
remaining 15% of homes that currently do not have them. 

"Of the 227 house fires last year 77 were in homes without a smoke alarm
fitted which clearly demonstrates the remaining homes without a working
smoke alarm are at far greater risk of fire requiring attendance of the
Fire Service than those fitted with an alarm," Mr Morris said. [ii]

"The Tasmanian Greens have for several years advocated in our
Alternative Budgets that a government program be commenced to provide
and fit smoke alarms to homes that do not have them and the latest data
from the Fire Commission annual report reinforces this urgency."

"Whilst the total number of domestic house fires has declined by 39 from
the preceding year, the number of fires in houses without an alarm only
reduced by 9, and in the past 4 years the percentage of house fires in
homes without an alarm remains about static showing that there is no
longer an increased level of protection being given to Tasmanians by the
fitting and maintenance of smoke alarms." 

"It is obvious by the latest startling figures on the high percentage of
fires in homes without smoke alarms from the State Fire Commission
Annual Report that the Bartlett Government   has let slip instillation
of smoke alarms as a key tool for improving community safety and the
protection of property," Mr Morris said. 

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[i] State Fire Commission Annual Report 2007/08 (page 18).

[ii] State Fire Commission Annual Report 2007/08 (page 11).




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