Heater safety warning issued as weather set to plummet

After a week of maximum temperatures in Albury between 27 and 30 degrees, a top of 19 and low of 7 degrees is forecast on Saturday.

Minimum temperatures of 6 and 4 degrees are predicted on Sunday and Monday.

Wodonga CFA Commander Trevor Ebbels said many people would begin using heaters for the first time in months.

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"We want people to have their heaters serviced prior to the winter to prevent one source of house fires," he said.

"Many heaters have been doing nothing since last winter.

"They collect dust."

He said a case several years ago when a family was overcome with carbon monoxide showed the importance of servicing gas heaters.

"We want to prevent that sort of tragedy happening again," he said.

"People will soon begin using their heaters constantly, and having them checked assures home owners and occupiers that they're safe."

People are also urged to ensure wood heater chimneys and flues are clean.

"We have a lot of combustion heater fires because they're not cleaned properly, particularly in the Alpine environment," Commander Ebbels said.

"It's important they're clean."

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