Firefighters are urging Tasmanians to install smoke alarms “in every room of their house” following a spate of winter blazes across the state.
Multiple fires in South Hobart, Howrah, New Norfolk and Kingston have prompted fire authorities to reinforce safety messages, as the colder months traditionally see an increase in house fires.
Tasmania Fire Service Regional Fire Investigator Tim McKay said modern homes pose greater fire risks than they did in previous decades.
“The reality is, due to a number of factors, residential fires will develop and spread more rapidly than they used to say, 20 years ago,” McKay said.
“Whereas a fire in a lounge room 20 years ago may have taken ten minutes or more to fully develop, that same fire in 2025 can become deadly in just two to three minutes.”
On Sunday night, a candle left too close to combustible materials caused a fire at a Kingston home, resulting in around $30,000 worth of damage.
A man in his thirties required hospital treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.
McKay said the winter increase in house fires is mainly due to greater use of heating equipment and extra cooking.
“We’d hope that Tasmanians are heeding the message to have a smoke alarm in every room of their house, particularly the sleeping areas, because that’s when we are at our most vulnerable, when we are asleep,” he said.
Fire investigators say modern furnishings are far more flammable than older materials, making early detection critical for survival.
“Fires happen fast, that’s why early notification is your best chance of survival,” McKay said.
“We urge all Tasmanians to have a working smoke alarm in all of the sleeping areas, but also not to forget the living areas and places like the garage.”
