As temperatures dip and the mornings get frostier, Canberrans are being urged to check for hidden fire dangers that could be lurking in appliances used to heat their homes.
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ACT Fire and Rescue has warned portable heaters, unsafe electric blankets and even lint trapped in filters of clothes dryers could pose a fire risk to homes this winter.
The warning comes after an elderly Cunningar woman received serious burns after her electric blanket caught fire on Monday night.
ACT Fire and Rescue acting chief officer Phil Canham urged Canberrans to ensure smoke alarms were working and to check household appliances commonly used in winter.
"People are starting to use portable heaters so with those types of things, make sure they're well clear of any flammable material," he said.
"People are getting them out after a warmer break, so make sure they're clean.
"With plug-in electrical devices, if there's any fraying around the cords, it's probably time to replace them. If there are any signs of malfunction or wear and tear that's showing the age of the appliance, we'd recommend discarding it and replacing it."
With built-in heating – such as airconditioners and ducted heating – people should ensure they have been properly serviced and cleaned.
Another household favourite in winter – the electric blanket – can be another hidden fire danger this winter.
Electric blankets should be rolled rather than folded when being stored in the warmer months.
"Check them for wear and tear and make sure there are no protruding wires, scorch marks ... and when they're on, make sure there's no uneven heat patches [which may be a sign of an electrical malfunction]," he said.
Lint in clothes dryers can also be a fire risk. Filters should be cleaned after every use.
"We do have some issues occasionally with lint build up which doesn't allow the heat to dissipate through the dryer," Mr Canham said.
But household appliances are not the only fire danger this winter and one common activity could be the most dangerous of all.
ACT Fire and Rescue attended 50 house fires last winter and of those, half started in the kitchen.
A large number of those were caused by attended foods.
"In the winter, people are cooking soups and stews and there can be a bit of complacency, where you put your stew on and you go shopping and it can cook dry or overheat and cause a fire," Mr Canham said.
"The message is: don't stop looking, while you're cooking."
Canberrans are also urged to check smoke alarms are working and clean and batteries should be replaced once a year.
"Working smoke alarms save lives," Mr Canham said.
With Katie Burgess
