On average, 18 people die in residential house in Victoria every year, and people are at higher risk if they have difficulties identifying that a fire has started, or if they’re slower or unable to escape from a fire at home.
CFA acting chief officer Gavin Thompson said the new course focused on three main elements to reduce risk.
“Prevention is key, and this module looks at the many ways people can reduce the chance of a fire starting,” Mr Thompson said.
National statistics show 62 per cent of people who die in preventable house fires have a disability.
The new module has been created to help reduce the number of fatalities, injuries and the number of fires that occur.
CFA and FRV worked with a wide range of stakeholders on the development of the module, including people with lived experience of disability, carers, support workers, and service provider managers or coordinators.
James Griffiths, who is vision impaired, was one of 50 people who provided feedback on the module.
James had first-hand experience of the dangers of house fires, having escaped from a burning house as a child, and said it was critical for people with a higher fire risk to know what to do in an emergency.
“I already have additional considerations for everyday life because I’m blind, but this module focuses on more specific things to think about so you’re prepared for a housefire,” he said.
“What’s also important is that this is not only for people with disabilities or older people, who may be at higher risk; it’s also for carers, family members, and support service providers.”
The Prevent, Detect, Escape – Home Fire Safety for people at higher risk e-learning module can be completed onlineat cfa.vic.gov.au/atrisk and frv.vic.gov.au/atrisk
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