Authorities are warning people to be on high alert for house fires during winter, with residential structure fires during winter seeing a worrying uptick since 2024, and common household items often to blame.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services recorded 274 house fires across WA last year, with 27 of those in the Great Southern region.

This marks a 25 per cent increase from the 219 fires catalogued across the State in 2024, and the State Government is warning that people should take more care in their homes.

Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia encouraged people to make a fire plan.

“People tend to underestimate the terrifying speed and ferocity of a house fire, but the fact is a small blaze can engulf a room in just two minutes, leaving families with little time to escape,” he said.

“Sadly, two people have died in structure fires across WA so far this year.

“The majority of house fires are preventable so it’s critical the community is aware of the top causes and how to reduce their risk.

“I’d encourage Western Australians to check their smoke alarms, create a home fire escape plan, and practise it with the whole family to ensure they stay safe this winter.”

DFES recently conducted a staged burn at a home in Cloverdale that was due for demolition to demonstrate how quickly common household items could cause fires inside a home if they were not used properly.

The department filmed the burn, showing a clothes drying rack left too close to a heater going up in smoke, then flames that spread to the floor and a nearby table, and an overloaded power board and a lithium-ion battery-powered drill on charge bursting into flames.

In 2025, cooking equipment was the top cause of house fires, causing 76 across the State, while heating systems caused 28.

Appliances and equipment, including those powered by lithium-ion batteries, and electrical distribution equipment like cords, plugs and chargers, each accounted for 32 fires.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said winter house fires started by electrical goods had increased by more then 50 per cent over the past five years.

He said DFES wanted the public to be “alert to the risks but not alarmed”.

“Electrical items and batteries are generally safe provided they are purchased from a trusted retailer, installed correctly, and used and maintained properly,” he said.

“We’re seeing some particularly fast-moving and destructive fires starting in areas like garages where people typically store electrical products like power tools and chargers.

“In addition to hard-wired smoke alarms in the home, I’d urge Western Australians to consider installing an interconnected heat alarm in garages and storage rooms to protect their property and loved ones.”

The City of Albany posted its own reminder of how quickly batteries could catch alight at the end of last month, after a battery caused a fire at the Hanrahan Road Waste Facility on May 22.

The blaze was quickly extinguished by facility staff and emergency services, but the city posted to Facebook shortly after the incident, reminding the community the outcome “could have been much worse”.

Batteries should not be disposed of in kerbside bins, where they can spark fires in recycling trucks, waste facilities, or landfills.

Instead, batteries should be dropped off at Fossicker’s Tip Shop or at a designated battery recycling facility for safe disposal.