Investigations into Hastings Fire Continue - Media Statement
[ Last Updated 7 June 2007 ]
On 25 August 2003, a house fire in Hastings took the lives of two eight-year-old twin girls, Jessie and Hannah Macdonald. Their father, Donald MacDonald, suffered serious burns and cuts. As part of the Energy Safety Service’s investigation into the accident, an LPG heater was removed from the scene and taken to Wellington to be tested at Industrial Research Limited.
The Hastings fire is the subject of an inquiry by the Coroner and the Energy Safety Service. The Police, the Fire Service and the Energy Safety Service are collaborating with an investigation into the cause. The Energy Safety Service say that accident investigations of this nature typically take two to three months to complete and at this stage, it would not be wise to speculate on the cause of the fire.
This accident highlights safety issues around the use of LPG cabinet heaters in New Zealand. If you have an LPG cabinet heater, the Energy Safety Service advise:
Check the connections for leaks
To check if connections are leaking, a good test is to spread a solution of water and dishwashing liquid on the connections each time you reconnect your cylinder to the heater. If bubbles appear, LPG is leaking. Also check for visible cracks on the flexible hose for any smell of gas or for any hissing sound. If you have any cause for concern, turn off the valve on the LPG cylinder immediately and contact your LPG service agent. Do not use your heater until it has been checked. Look in the Yellow Pages under “Gas Appliances” for servicing and repairs.
Check heater equipment regularly and have it serviced
Your LPG cabinet heater should be serviced every 12 months. Take the cylinder in with the heater, so that both parts of the connector can be checked. Make sure equipment such as the cylinder adapter, rubber seals, heater regulator, connections and flexible hose are in good condition. If you find a fault, don’t try and fix it yourself.
Adapters
Do not install or remove adapters to your cylinder valve as this could damage the valve
mechanism and cause a high pressure gas leakage.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
Read the instructions supplied with your LPG cabinet heater and follow them carefully.
Make sure your heater is well ventilated
Portable gas heaters such as LPG cabinet heaters and unflued space heaters need special care. Ensure that there is adequate ventilation by always keeping a window open when these heaters are in use. Never use them in a bathroom, bedroom or confined space such as in a caravan.
Keep your heater away from flammable materials
Always keep plenty of space between your heaters (LPG, gas and electric) and furniture. Keep heaters well away from flammable materials such as curtains. Never hang clothes on heaters to dry – this is a common cause of fires.
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