Check your smoke alarms as you change your clock, say RACV and CFA

As daylight saving comes to an end, RACV and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) are urging all Victorians to take a simple but life-saving step: test your smoke alarms when you put back your clocks.

RACV General Manager Corporate Affairs Liz Carey reminded Victorians that checking your smoke alarms is one of the best things you can do for your family’s safety.

“As firefighters respond to 3,000 house fires annually, many house fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms,” Ms Carey said.

“The first 30 seconds when your smoke alarm goes off can be the difference between life and death. The importance of functional smoke alarms in the home cannot be overstated.”

CFA Acting Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic said now is an opportune time to check and inspect the condition of your smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly.  

“House fires can become lethal within three minutes, with smoke alarms playing a crucial role in early fire detection and evacuation for you and your loved ones,” Mr Slijepcevic said.

“Yet statistics indicate only 45 per cent of properties attended by fire services had smoke alarms, with 31 per cent of those alarms not working.

RACV is recommending all Victorians to take the time this weekend to conduct a comprehensive smoke alarm check to ensure their smoke alarms are functioning properly.

CFA recommends:

• Testing all smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button to make sure it beeps
• Dusting alarms and changing the 9V batteries every year
• Installing alarms in all living areas, hallways and bedrooms
• Installing interconnected alarms powered by 10-year lithium batteries

Change your smoke alarm if it is:

• Yellowing or has other discolouration of the alarm unit
• Making intermittent ‘chirping’ or beeping sounds
• Making false alarms and other unexplained activations
• Older than 10 years

Since April 2024, RACV and CFA’s Smoke Alarm Installation Program has installed over 3900 free smoke alarms to more than 1500 homes across Victoria.

The program aims to reduce preventable fire fatalities and increase awareness of home fire hazards, supporting vulnerable communities such as elderly Victorians. 

“Every Victorian deserves to feel safe and secure in their home, and this program is helping to provide that for our communities,” Mr Slijepcevic said.

Visit racv.com/trades for professional smoke alarm installation and safety assessments or contact local fire authorities for comprehensive fire safety information.