Queensland House Fires Are Rising

What Homeowners Need to Check Now

Recent reporting by the Courier-Mail has highlighted a sharp increase in residential fires across Queensland, with firefighters now attending an average of seven structural fires every day.

According to Queensland Fire Department data shared with the media, residential fires have reached their highest level in four years, with many blazes linked to electrical faults, kitchens, and lithium-ion batteries.

While these incidents are confronting, they also reinforce an important message for homeowners: early warning saves lives.

What’s causing most house fires in Queensland?

Fire authorities report that where the cause has been identified, the most common ignition sources include:

In many cases, fires escalate quickly – often filling homes with smoke within minutes.

Why compliant smoke alarms matter more than ever

In the Courier-Mail article, families who lost their homes urged others to check their smoke alarms meet Queensland standards.

That advice is critical.

Queensland’s smoke alarm legislation now requires:

Non-compliant or outdated alarms may not activate early enough – or at all.

What homeowners should check right now

If you live in Queensland, ask yourself:

If you’re unsure, you’re not alone — many homes still have alarms installed under old standards.

From 1 January 2027, all Queensland homes, including owner-occupied and short-term accommodation, must meet current smoke alarm legislation.

At Coast Smoke Alarms, our focus is simple:

We don’t rely on scare tactics – we rely on standards, experience, and compliance.

Final words

House fires can happen to anyone. Working, compliant smoke alarms give you time – and time saves lives.

If you’re unsure whether your home meets Queensland requirements, now is the time to check.