Stawell Fire Brigade Captain, Tim Hughes has issued a timely reminder to residents about the importance of ensuring their heaters are serviced and checked for winter.
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Mr Hughes said as the cold sets in, residents are tempted to leave heaters on overnight and to also put clothes next to or up against the heater to dry them or warm them up.
He said this was a dangerous practice.
“Most people will have, at some stage in their lives, put clothes up against a heater to dry them,” he said.
“While nothing may have happened in the past, it only takes one time for clothes to catch fire and the house and all the belongings inside, could be gone.”
Mr Hughes said being winter, all appliances in the home, including gas, wood or electric heaters, need to be checked to ensure they are working properly.
“People need to ensure they have checked their flue on their fireplace. It may not have been checked over summer because they are not in use, so they need to be checked before they are lit.
“The key message is check everything.”
