Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire at Canfells which took firefighters 25 to 30 minutes to control and over an hour to extinguish completely. Lightning Ridge Fire Brigade Captain John Bevan said although no one suffered major injuries a man in his thirties was taken to the Lightning Ridge Hospital for treatment.

Captain Bevan said having only three fires by this time was unbelievably good.

“Sometimes we get up 20 to 30 fires by this time of year so whatever precautions people are taking are obviously working,” Mr Bevan said.

Mr Bevan’s comments correspond to those of Minister for Emergency Services Steve Whan who issued a warning to remind householders about winter fire safety at the end of last week.

“Winter is traditionally the most dangerous time of year for home fires and it is important that residents remain alert to the risk of fire,” Mr Whan said

“With the cold weather continuing, it’s important people take simple steps to reduce fire risks to avoid any tragic loss of life or property,” he concluded.

Of more than 50 fires attended by NSW Brigades last week at least 25 started in the kitchen, six in the bedroom and at least four involved heaters.

The NSW Fire Brigade’s winter safety tips include:

o Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every level of the home.

o Switch off the stove before leaving the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended.

o Portable heaters need to be at least one metre away from flammable materials such as curtains, clothing and bedding and need to be switched off when going to bed.

o Check power points aren’t overloaded.

o Check electric blankets for faults.

o Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer each time before use.