Fire Safety Reminder

Chris Marshall Reporter from Taupō Times

A number of fires in Taupō following Easter should serve as a reminder for homeowners to remember some basic fire safety messages, says Taupō fire investigator Stu Cradock.
As winter hits and fire use increases, people should have working smoke alarms (checked when we changed our clocks for daylight saving) and hot ashes need to be disposed of correctly - not put in a rubbish bag and left in or near a house.
In certain conditions ashes can stay dangerous for up to five days, he says.
FENZ recommends using a metal container when cleaning out a fire, leaving ash for five days, away from the house, before double bagging and even then waiting before putting out with the rubbish if they must be sent to landfill.