A PerthNow report published on 27 July 2025, attributing figures to Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), says heating systems were involved in 16 of 136 building fires in Perth since 1 June 2025—about 11.8%. The report names chimney or gas-vent flues, portable heaters, open fireplaces and electric blankets among the incidents. It separately reports dryer fires over a different period.
Which appliances and heating systems were involved?
The 16 incidents were described as involving heating systems. PerthNow’s printed breakdown, attributed to DFES, names these sources:
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- Seven fires involving a chimney or gas-vent flue
- Three involving a portable heater
- Two involving an open indoor fireplace
- Two involving an electric blanket
Those categories add up to 14, not 16. The report does not identify the other two incidents in its listed breakdown, so the named sources should not be treated as a complete accounting. The figures also do not establish that a particular appliance brand or model is defective; the report says heater fires were often linked to mechanical failures or operational deficiencies.
The 2025 incident figures are attributed to DFES in PerthNow’s report. They are not presented here as a national statistic or as a count of every kind of residential fire.
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What about clothes dryers?
The same report says 24 dryer fires had occurred since June 2024, with six (25%) occurring in winter 2025. That is a separate period and category from the 136 Perth building fires counted since 1 June 2025; the report does not provide a matching denominator for the dryer figure. The two totals therefore cannot be combined or directly compared.
How can households reduce fire risks?
Keep heat sources clear
DFES advises keeping flammable materials at least one metre from heaters and other heat sources, and keeping fireplaces and chimneys clean and clear of residue. Its winter heating guidance also recommends checking and maintaining heating and electrical appliances.
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Check and maintain heaters and electrical appliances
DFES Deputy Commissioner Operations Craig Waters told PerthNow that people should switch off appliances when they are not in use, check devices for damage, clean dust and dirt from heaters regularly, and avoid overloading a power supply with multiple adaptors. For gas heating equipment, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidance and arrange inspection if it is damaged or behaving abnormally.
Use smoke alarms and plan an escape
DFES advises households to check smoke alarms regularly, make a home fire escape plan and ensure family members know what to do if a fire starts. In a separate 2024 release, DFES said 52% of properties involved in more than 1,100 residential structure fires it attended over the preceding 12 months had no working smoke alarm or no alarm installed. That figure has a different period and scope from the 2025 Perth appliance-fire figures. The DFES release also advises monthly testing, annual cleaning and replacing smoke alarms every ten years; check applicable WA requirements before installing or replacing alarms.
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