New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke has called on residents, landlords and tenants across the state of New South Wales to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their home as the death toll from house fires this winter is now more than double last year.

Cooke said that the risk of death in a house fire is significantly reduced if working smoke alarms are installed. “Since the start of June we’ve lost nine people in house fires across the State, which is more than double the entire 2021 winter death toll of four,” she said.

“Fire can engulf a home in a matter of minutes and while smoke won’t wake you up, a smoke alarm will, which could be the difference between life and death.”

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Acting Deputy Commissioner Trent Curtin said it is the responsibility of landlords to ensure there are working smoke alarms in rental properties: “It’s the law for all properties to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of the home.

“Landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms in rented premises. After the tenancy begins, the tenant is responsible for replacing the battery, if needed, in battery-operated smoke alarms. Landlords must replace the batteries in a hard-wired smoke alarm.

“And if you live in a rental property, I urge you to test your smoke alarm and make sure it’s in good working order. If there’s no smoke alarm or it’s faulty, contact your landlord immediately. It may just save your life and that of your loved ones.”

Since 1 June, FRNSW has attended 373 house fires across NSW. Of these, 44 per cent did not have working smoke alarms, while a further 20 per cent did not a have smoke alarm installed.