A RETAILER has warned that no batteries for any type of equipment should be left on charge unattended.
Battery World Capalaba's Steve Minter said batteries should never be left on charge on a bed, carpet or soft surface nor overnight
Battery World will change smoke alarm batteries for free if people bring old batteries into their stores.
"We understand people might come in for extended family, so we will happily give you as many as 20 batteries for your old ones," Mr Minter said.
"Hundreds of thousands of Australians still fail to change their smoke alarm batteries every year.
"Yet one simple fact does not change - if you haven't got a working smoke alarm you are four times more likely to die in a residential fire than people with a working smoke alarm."
And if you live in a home where the garage is connected to your house, Battery World Australia is urging residents to check and install a smoke alarm in the hall outside the door to the garage.
"Already this year there have been house fires in every state of Australia that have started in the garage," he
said.
"The garage can be a virtual time bomb: we are charging our cordless drills, electric bike batteries you name it, often overnight, in an area where we store fuel for the mower or a spare gas bottle for the barbeque.
"Just last week two crews ... on the Sunshine Coast were called to a fire that started in the garage, this is on top of a Gold Coast home destroyed last year after a fire stated in the garage caused by lights being charged.
"Nothing should be left on charge unattended and especially overnight, yet there are no laws about putting a smoke detector in this area.
"You are 57 per cent more likely to suffer property damage or loss and 26 per cent more likely to suffer injury - all because the smoke alarm is not working, or you do not have one."
Mr Minter said it could take just three minutes for a fire to take hold.
Statistics showed that more than half of those who died in a house fire over the past 10 years did not have a working smoke alarm, two thirds were over 65 or had a disability and nearly two thirds lived alone.
This meant people should also check on elderly relatives or neighbours.
"Not only that but ask yourself or your landlord, 'how old is the smoke alarm in your house?' If they are older than 10 years they need replacing too.
"Where ever you sleep - even in your camper van or a RV - you need a working smoke alarm."
