NSW sees winter rise in fire-related deaths and injuries

The New South Wales Government has launched Fire and Rescue NSW’s annual Winter Fire Safety campaign, highlighting a seasonal increase in home fire incidents and associated risks.

According to the New South Wales Government, the campaign began as winter temperatures led to a 13 percent increase in house fires during colder months.

Between 1 June and 30 August 2024, over 1,000 fires occurred in homes across the state, resulting in 12 fatalities and injuries to more than 100 people.

Smoke alarm failures linked to nearly half of winter fires

Fire and Rescue NSW reported that 44 percent of winter home fires in 2024 occurred in dwellings where either no smoke alarm was installed or the device failed to activate.

It added that 42 percent of fires during this period began in household kitchens.

Across all of 2024, there were 3,674 residential fires in NSW, resulting in 25 deaths.

In 45 percent of these cases, no working smoke alarm was present.

Lithium-ion battery safety a continuing concern

The campaign also draws attention to hazards related to lithium-ion batteries.

Fire and Rescue NSW stated that 115 battery-related incidents were recorded in the state during 2024 so far.

Of these, 42 incidents were linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.

The service warned that charging, storing or disposing of these devices incorrectly may cause fires or explosions.

Community support efforts launched alongside campaign

Fire and Rescue NSW said that its crews would be visiting households to carry out free safety checks and offer guidance on preventing winter fire risks, including battery charging behaviour.

Firefighters will also install smoke alarms at no cost where needed.

The public can request a free home fire safety visit and alarm installation at any time through the Fire and Rescue NSW website.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“This winter the NSW Government wants to ensure households have a working smoke alarm installed.

“They can give residents the crucial seconds needed to get everyone out safely.

“In my own community of Bankstown, dozens of fires broke out in homes last winter, and more than half of those homes didn’t have a working smoke alarm installed.

“If you need help, our firefighters are here for you.

To test a smoke alarm please book a safety visit through the Fire and Rescue NSW website or by calling your local fire station.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said:
“The risk of fires in our homes increases during the colder months as we try to stay warm and cook more hot meals.

“Keep looking when cooking – never leave cooking unattended and don’t throw water onto a fat fire as it will intensify the flames – use a fire blanket or extinguisher instead.”

Targeted data shows high-risk areas across NSW

Fire and Rescue NSW published a breakdown of the number of winter house fires in 2024 by local government area (LGA), along with the proportion of incidents in homes without functioning smoke alarms.

Canterbury-Bankstown experienced the most fires (63), with 51 percent of homes lacking a working alarm.

Wollongong had 30 house fires, and 60 percent were reported to have no operational smoke alarm.

Other LGAs with high fire counts included Blacktown (53), Central Coast (45), and Cumberland (43), each reporting a large share of fires occurring in homes without functioning alarms.

Winter fire safety in NSW: Summary

The New South Wales Government has launched Fire and Rescue NSW’s Winter Fire Safety campaign.

It reported a 13 percent increase in house fires during winter 2024 compared to the rest of the year.

Between June and August 2024, there were over 1,000 home fires across NSW.

These incidents resulted in 12 deaths and more than 100 injuries.

In 44 percent of winter home fires, there was no working smoke alarm or the device failed.

Kitchen fires made up 42 percent of the total during this period.

Throughout 2024, 3,674 residential fires occurred in the state.

These led to 25 deaths, and 45 percent of homes affected had no operational smoke alarm.

Fire and Rescue NSW recorded 115 lithium-ion battery incidents in 2024 so far.

Of those, 42 were related to e-bikes and e-scooters.

The agency warned against unsafe charging, storage and disposal practices.

Free safety checks and smoke alarm installations are being offered by firefighters across NSW.

The campaign encourages residents to book a fire safety visit through the service’s website.