CFA Churchill July 2026

Only working smoke alarms save lives

Are you sick of hearing the sound of a nagging smoke alarm? Change your old smoke alarms to a new unit with a long-life battery that has a 10 year lifespan.

New smoke alarms that have a 10 year lifespan ensure families can feel the highest level of security. Working smoke alarms are your best defence against preventable residential fires, especially during the night, when people lose their sense of smell. These new alarms provide the security of knowing you and your family are protected, while also ensuring you are not interrupted every year with a nagging smoke alarm.

In the past decade, Victorian firefighters have responded to more than 30,000 residential fires across the state, with more than half of all fatal fires starting in people’s bedrooms and living areas. Despite this, a concerning number of Victorians still do not have smoke alarms in their bedrooms and living areas. Did you know that most fatal fires happen in the sleeping hours between 8pm and 8am?

When you are asleep you lose your sense of smell. A smoke alarm is your electronic nose. It will alert you if there is smoke from a fire. A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in just two to three minutes. A smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape.

Smoke alarms are compulsory in every home

Since August 1, 1997 Victorian law states that smoke alarms (complying with Australian Standard AS3786) must be installed in all homes, units, flats and townhouses. It is the responsibility of all owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms.

Homes constructed before August 1, 1997 need only standalone, battery powered smoke alarms. Homes constructed after August 1, 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240 volt mains power. These smoke alarms must also have a backup battery installed in the smoke alarm in case there is a loss of power.

Additionally, in homes constructed or largely renovated after May 1, 2014, where there is a need for more than one smoke alarm, all smoke alarms must be interconnected so that if one smoke alarm activates, they all will.

Smoke alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Specialised smoke alarms are available for people who may have difficulty hearing standard smoke alarms and evacuation systems.

The main body of the unit looks like a normal smoke alarm on your ceiling. The other parts are a strobe light (sight) and vibrating pad (tactile) for your bed. In the event of a fire, all alarms will sound, the lights will flash, and the vibrating pad will activate.

Specialised alarms can be interconnected with conventional audible alarms in different locations within the home.

Due to the cost of this type of alarm a Smoke Alarm Subsidy is available. Find out if you are eligible for the Smoke Alarm Subsidy via Expression Australia.

https://www.expression.com.au/services/support-for-seniors-over-65/smoke-alarm-subsidy

Churchill Fire Brigade part of new AV and CFA Lifesaving Program

Churchill Fire Brigade is one of 50 CFA brigades that are trained and ready to respond to select medical Triple Zero calls as part of a new program that officially commenced in 2023.

The new Fire Medical Response (FMR) program is a joint initiative of CFA and Ambulance Victoria that will see CFA brigades and Ambulance Victoria dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrests.

More than 25 brigades are now part of the program, with a total of 50 brigades around Victoria to undertake the FMR role in their communities.

Churchill Fire Brigade Captain Matt Fisher said the decision to join the program was an easy one to make given the benefits it will provide the Churchill community.

“When a life threatening cardiac emergency occurs, early intervention is key” said Matt. “What this program means is that community members who call for an ambulance may receive both a fire truck and an ambulance. There is no specific order in which the services arrive to the incident.”

Churchill Fire Brigade has been training with Ambulance Victoria for months, in preparation for the program which will complement the Ambulance Victoria service in the local area.

CFA Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said the program was a natural fit for CFA because of the 52,000 volunteers across the state.

“CFA has more than 1,100 volunteer fire stations with more than 52,000 members,” Garry said.

“This puts CFA in a unique position to complement the Ambulance Victoria response in 50 locations across Victoria to help deliver early intervention to cardiac arrests.”

Ambulance Victoria Acting Executive Director of Regional Operations, Michael Georgiou, said Victoria has the best cardiac survival rate in Australia and is second only to Denmark worldwide, thanks to high rates of early intervention.

“Victoria remains the safest state in Australia to go into cardiac arrest with Ambulance Victoria initiatives, such as the FMR program, saving lives,” Michael said.

By upskilling CFA brigades to provide life-saving intervention, particularly in areas where a fire truck may reach a patient sooner than an ambulance, we can get people the care they need faster.

“FMR makes a real difference – when patients experiencing cardiac arrest are shocked by an Automated External Defibrillator before paramedics arrive, an incredible 63 per cent survive. This is compared to just seven per cent when there was no bystander CPR or AED use.”