HAPNZ, Fire Service call for smoke alarms in holiday camps

May 9, 2007

The Holiday Accommodation Parks Association (HAPNZ) has endorsed a call from the New Zealand Fire Service that all holiday parks install smoke alarms to their built accommodation.

The call comes after the death of 35 year old Jason Ross in a fire at an Invercargill camping ground at the weekend. In May last year Elaine Puku from Australia was hospitalised after suffering severe burns in a fire at a holiday park unit in Christchurch. In both cases the accommodation had no smoke alarms.

HAPNZ Chief Executive Fergus Brown says that while the law does not require holiday park and camp ground owners to install smoke alarms into their units (providing they were built before 2004) it is something they should seriously consider.

“The vast majority of holiday park owners are focussed on creating a safe, enjoyable environment for their guests. Installing smoke alarms is simply another step in that process.”

Fire Service spokesperson Mitchell Brown says it is a myth that units are not at risk of fire if there are no kitchen facilities in them.

“There are many other ways for a fire to start, from a stray cigarette, to an iron accidentally left on or even someone cooking on their own equipment.

“Ten dollars per room will make sure guests have enough warning to get out alive and will alert the owners and fire brigade faster, meaning a greater likelihood that there’s a unit to come back to next time.”

Smoke alarms in holiday accommodation should ideally have a hush facility, which will allow guests to respond appropriately to any alarm.

Installing photoelectric alarms will lessen the likelihood of steam from the bathroom activating the alarm.

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