Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Anthony Roberts today backed NSW Fire Brigades Commissioner Greg Mullins when he encouraged households to 'spring clean' and reduce the risk of fire in the home.

"NSWFB figures show almost 25% of last year’s house fires - or more than 1,076 - occurred between 1 September and 30 November 2007,” Mr Roberts said.

“Now that spring has arrived I’m urging everyone to take the time to ‘spring clean' to prepare homes for the warmer months by clearing out any rubbish, piles of old newspapers, cardboard boxes and unused furniture and ensuring that nothing is blocking the exit and escape points in your homes,” he said.

"I have been advised that 50 per cent of residential fires start in the kitchen, so it is essential to clean your cooking appliances and remove built up grease from range hood filters.

“By following a few fire safety precautions and having a working smoke alarm and home escape plan, households are better protected from fire:

• Remember household chemicals, pesticides, pool chemicals, and caustic cleaning agents can accelerate the spread of a fire and will produce a lot of toxic smoke.
• Lock away garden and household chemicals from children and check the manufacturer's instructions on the containers regarding storage of these chemicals.
• Pruning back shrub and tree branches, cleaning the outside of your house by removing leaves from gutters, roofs and downpipes will reduce the fuel load for a potential fire.
• Don’t forget to include checking power points and power boards to make sure they're not overloaded and inspecting electrical cords and equipment for damage.
• As part of the spring clean don’t forget the smoke alarms, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust particles, which can hinder the smoke alarms' performance in a fire situation.

 "It's a sad fact that losing property, possessions or worse in a fire is often preventable and with a good spring clean, people stand a better chance of protecting their homes and families from fire," said Mr Roberts.