Caravan fire tragedy prompts calls for smoke alarm regulations review

Published: May 22, 2023

The death of two people in a caravan fire in Brisbane has prompted calls for a review of Queensland’s smoke alarm regulations.

Fire crews arrived at the fire in Upper Brookfield, in Brisbane’s western suburbs, in the early hours of Saturday to find flames coming out of ‘all sides’ of the van.

Two people were found dead inside the caravan that was underneath a semipermanent structure with a tin roof. A third person suffered burns when he tried to help.

According to the Courier Mail newspaper, Queensland is one of only three states in the country where smoke alarms in caravans and mobile homes are not mandatory.

The paper says that Queensland Fire and Emergency Services recommends at least one working photoelectric smoke alarm inside the van where the bed is, and one also in the annex if you sleep there.

Speaking after the tragedy, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would ‘follow up’ with the QFES Commissioner regarding calls for mandatory smoke alarms in movable dwellings.

The Courier Mail reports that Photoelectric Smoke Alarms Australia says: “In NSW, Victoria and the Northern Territory, regardless of where your campervan is registered, it must be fitted with a smoke alarm by law. If you are visiting South Australia and you are on-site for 60 days or longer, then a smoke alarm is required by law.”

Police are still investigating how a blaze broke out in the caravan, which was located on a semi-rural property where a group of people were staying.

The fire is not believed to have been suspicious.

Over the years, there have been a number of terrifying caravan fires, sometimes in caravan parks. Back in 2019, 18 caravans were destroyed when flames swept from van to van at the Goughs Bay Caravan Park near Lake Eildon in Victoria.

With caravans and motorhomes commonly having to park up in close quarters to each other in van parks, the thought of a blaze sweeping through is understandably a worrying one for many travellers.

  • Do you think all states and territories should have uniform rules mandating the use of smoke alarms in caravans and motorhomes? Comment below.

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In addition to smoke alarms caravans should be fitted with a working Carbon Monoxide detector.

If your caravan comes without a smoke alarm, one would have thought that personal safety would ensure the owner installed one. When will we start taking personal responsibility for our actions. I would not sleep in a caravan without a smoke alarm, an LPG detector and CO monitor. Very cheap insurance.

Should be a National regulation.

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