Firefighters have reminded Hunter residents to stay alert and be cautious this winter following a number of house fires.
There have been 146 kitchen fires in the Hunter this year so far, with Lake Macquarie recording the highest number at 43.
Kitchen fires make up 45 percent of all residential house fires.
The kitchen is not the only area of concern, with living room and bedroom fires expected to spike by 10 percent over winter.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales Duty Commander for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Peter Nies says wintertime is a particularly risky time for house fires as people are more likely to use heaters and have their homes closed up.
Other risk factors include unattended cooking, improper maintenance of heaters and electrical products, and overloaded powerboards or dryers.
With five deaths from home fires recorded already this year and an annual average of 500 house fire-related injuries, Nies says it is important for locals to know how to leave their homes in the event of an emergency and to dial 000.
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| Image Newcastle Herald |
