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National | Fire

Call to strengthen laws over fire warning devices

If it be a home or a marae, Mahuika the Goddess of Fire doesn't care, however when a fire takes a human life that's another issue. It re-awakens the call to make a law which requires all homes, buildings and marae to install fire warning devices.

A grandmother and her grandson were the fatalities of a house fire last week in Palmerston North.

While in the previous month a fire broke out at Mokai Marae in central North Island, which destroyed the dining hall Parehingaawatea.

The seriousness and devastation of recent fires has prompted re-newed calls to create a new law which makes it compulsory for all homes, buildings and Marae to install fire protection devices. The New Zealand Fire Service spokesperson says it's a call they support however it's not up to them.

Fireman Piki Thomas says "That's an issue for the Government, maybe a wider public referendum, as for the NZ Fire Service we've seen our marae grow, develop and improve so there may be deeper issues involved regarding the recent spate of fires that have hit our marae. Our job is to inform, educate and encourage the use of these safety procedures, not to dictate or make laws."

The solution says Piki Thomas consists of three main fire prevention methods for the safety of homes, families and for guests staying on your marae.

"Firstly to install fire prevention devices like sprinklers, smoke alarms and an have an exit plan, to ensure the safety of people using the marae," Thomas adds.