The firefighters, who are also fully rescue accredited and assist other emergency services in all kinds of weather, are always keen to educate the community about the importance of having a smoke alarm, especially in the lead-up to winter.

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“Each year around 20 people die in NSW from fires that could have been prevented, while hundreds more suffer life-changing health consequences,” Fire & Rescue Tea Gardens Captain James Wisemantel said.

“We see a ten percent increase in the number of home fires during the cooler months, with more fires starting in bedrooms and loungerooms due to things like heaters and electric blankets.

“Each death and injury are tragic for families, friends and the wider community, and this year, we want you to prepare your homes early for winter.

“Remember: only working smoke alarms save lives, so now is the time to replace your smoke alarm if it is more than ten years old.”

Another serious issue, relatively new and often overlooked, is the danger associated with Lithium-ion batteries.

“Lithium-ion batteries can be found in many portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, e-bikes and e-scooters, and although these devices make our lives easier, they have risk potential,” Captain James Wisemantel explained.

“Lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing fire risk in NSW, so it is important for people to understand how to charge devices safely and what they can do if they catch fire.”

According to the ABC, as of March 2024, there have been over 1000 Lithium-ion battery-related fires in Australia, and with this technology underpinning the ‘greener tech’ movement, incidents are only likely to increase.

Many incidents have been associated with low-quality substitute batteries, or being improperly charged in unsupervised environments.

Tea Gardens Fire & Rescue is hosting an Open Day at the Tea Gardens Station, near the Library, on Saturday 11 May from 10am-2pm.

The community is invited to attend and learn more about Lithium-ion battery safety, as well as firefighting demonstrations, station tours and safety presentations.

By Thomas O’KEEFE