Fire Service advice to public re power outage

The New Zealand Fire Service is advising Aucklanders affected by the power outage to follow some basic safety rules for using generators, gas barbecues and lanterns.

Assistant Area Manager Mike Shaw said overnight, firefighters were called to two worrying incidents. In one, a woman was burned in an accident involving her methylated spirits camping stove. In another, a family fired up a portable generator under their house and then closed up the basement and went to bed.

“Diesel-fired generators emit carbon monoxide and this could easily have filtered up through the floorboards and killed the sleeping family. Luckily, it ran out of fuel before this could happen.”

He urged people not use portable barbecues, LPG patio lights or other such equipment inside a home unless there is plenty of ventilation from open doors and windows.

“When changing the gas canisters or re-fueling – make sure you are well away from any candles, or any other source of ignition.”

Generators should be kept outdoors, or in a well-ventilated area to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and the fuel should be kept separately.

If you are using candles, make sure they are on a stable, non-combustible surface, well away from curtains or bedding and out of the reach of children. Make sure they are all blown out before you go to bed.

“The electricity supply will come back on without warning, so make sure all your switches are Off and that you have checked your stove to make sure no elements are On.

And please read the instructions for any equipment you are not familiar with.”

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