Fire and Rescue NSW is warning the public not to take dangerous risks to stay warm during the current polar snap that’s gripping Australia’s east coast.
The Service is encouraging the public not to engage in risky behaviour to heat up homes during the cold snap which has been credited to a strong low-pressure system which is generating temperatures up to six degrees below average in the eastern parts of the country.
Residents should inspect any heaters removed from storage to ensure they are in good working order and clean them if necessary and, under no circumstances, should outdoor barbecues and heaters be brought inside homes to provide heat as they generate Carbon Monoxide, an invisible, toxic, odourless and tasteless gas that can render people unconscious and cause death.
Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations, Paul McGuiggan, says the last time NSW experienced bitter winter cold snaps, in 2022, there were a record 17 deaths in residential fires.
