Smoke alarms a 'must' in buildings, caravans used as sleepout
The Fire Service is urging people to install smoke alarms in garages and other places being used as a sleepout, after a man died in a garage fire in Masterton last week.
National investigations manager Peter Wilding says using garages, caravans and other buildings as sleepouts is becoming common practice for many extended families but most don't think to install fire alarms in them.
He says at least one person dies in a sleepout fire every year and they are becoming more common.
He says the smaller size of a garage or sleepout means flames and toxic products travel very quickly across the structure.
Mr Wilding says virtually none of the sleepout fires the Fire Service has attended have had working smoke alarms.
