SGIC is urging home cooks to be fire safety aware and to pay attention to what’s on the stove with its claims data showing that over one in four SA house fires start in the kitchen*.
The insurer surveyed 450 SA households and found that**:
SGIC spokesman, Rob Cory said kitchen fires have the potential to spread quickly, often jumping to curtains or cupboards in a matter of seconds.
“It always concerns us to hear that people are still leaving cooking unattended despite regular warnings."
“Our research showed many of us step away to talk on the phone, surf the internet or squeeze in some housework."
“We also saw that around seven per cent of SA households don’t have smoke alarms installed in their home and around 60 per cent don’t have a fire blanket or extinguisher at hand."
“As we’re into the cooler months where we all tend to spend more time at home cooking and with the heater on, we want to help SA households reduce the risk of home fires,” said Mr Cory.
To help prevent and be ready for a home fire, SGIC recommends households:
For more information on how to make your home safer visit www.sgic.com.au/bushfireready
* SGIC SA home claims data 2006–10.
** Survey of more than 450 SA households by Pure Profile Research in May 2011.