Every village should have a detailed fire evacuation strategy and procedure – it’s the law. But I have been learning that many do not, and this is very dangerous.
Retirement villages are medium to high density living, including medium to high rise, with sometimes frail and elderly residents.
It is not simple to evacuate a village in the event of a fire, checking all people are out of their homes, and guiding them to safety.
It’s a requirement
The law says building or business owner have an obligation to establish emergency procedure manual in the work place for their employees or people working in the premises. This includes residents. According to Work, Health and Safety Legislation, it is a fineable offence not to have one in place.
I have attended two of the NSW government enquiry meetings of retirement Village residents being staged across the state. Tales quickly emerged of:
- no evacuation plan known off
- no evacuation practice in 11 years
- lift only exit from high-rise floors
- emergency exit lighting not working
- roads not wide enough for a fire engine
and more.
Every year there are at least five fires that we hear of in retirement villages, usually the result of a stove or a heater being left on, usually overnight.
Ask the village manager
Our advice: ask the village manager for a copy of your emergency procedures manual and when will you next have your fire drill.
This is serious!
Picture: The unit belonging to Joan Kelso, 86, from the Rodney Park Retirement Village in Mooroopna near Shepparton, which was destroyed by the blaze last November. Three neighbouring units also had to be evacuated by the fire, which is believed to have been caused by a kitchen stove top which was left on overnight.
