Emergency Services in the local region are joining forces with the Member for Light, Mr Tony Piccolo, to host a Community Safety Day to help people prepare for natural disasters and other major disruptive events.

Mr Piccolo said the focus of the Community Safety Day is to provide information to local people about how they can reduce the risk of any harm to themselves and their families through making sure they are prepared for an emergency.

Dalkeith CFS will join the Concordia CFS, the Kapunda and Salisbury SES and local MFS to provide information at the Gawler Central Shopping Centre at the corner of Cowan and Murray Streets, Gawler from 9 am till 12 Noon on Saturday 8 April 2017.

“People can take simple measures to make their homes safer from fire and storm events. We all have a role to play in community safety, and being informed is a key element,” Mr Piccolo said.“Fires involving electrical air cooling equipment had caused nearly $1.5 million damage in South Australia this past summer.”

Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and Country Fire Service (CFS) firefighters have responded to 12 fires across the state caused by air conditioners, evaporative coolers and fans, leaving $1.429m in property damage since 1 December. With winter approaching, householders should check and consider changing their smoke alarm batteries.

For homes that do not have working smoke alarms fitted, the risk of a significant house fire increases.

The CFS say that most people are not aware that when you go to sleep, so does your sense of smell.

“This is why it’s so critical to have a working smoke alarm to give you the time you need to escape a house fire.

“Extreme or severe storms can bring heavy rain, strong wind, hail, thunder and lightning.”

The State Emergency services (SES) recommend that householders develop an emergency plan in case they need to evacuate.“The services will give FREE information on how people can be better prepared and make their homes safer,” said Mr Piccolo.

Mr Piccolo thanked the Shopping Centre for making their premises available for this important community event.