Emergency services say a bunk bed fire is a timely reminder to teach fire safety
After a toddler playing with a lighter managed to set a bed on fire, emergency services have said it was an important reminder for parents to keep lighters in hard-to-reach places.
At 8am on Saturday a woman yelled out to nearby police there was a fire, at a home in the Kingston area, police said.
The police helped put the bedroom fire out, and no one was injured.
A bedroom fire was started by a child playing with a lighter at Logan on Saturday.
Photo: Queensland Police ServiceEarly investigations revealed a three-year-old had been playing with a jet lighter on their bed, and then bed then caught alight.
Brisbane region co-ordinator for the Fight Fire Fascination program, Clinton Pilon, said it was normal for children to be interested in fire but it was important to teach them the dangers of playing with it.
"It's definitely not an uncommon thing for children to be fascinated with fire," he said.
"For the majority of children, they're unaware of the risks or consequences.
"If you do find your child with a lighter or matches, having a conversation about - not so much berating them - but about consequences, about how easily a fire can spread and the dangers of it."
If parents were concerned about their child's interest in fire, Mr Pilon said the Fight Fire Fascination program for children aged 3 to 17 was free, confidential, and tailored to each child.
Mr Pilon said it was not uncommon for children to be fascinated by fire.
Photo: Queensland Police Service"It's where specially trained firefighters like myself come out in pairs to the home, and we can talk with children and parents," he said.
"Rather than talking down or getting them in trouble, we try to educate and instil skills that hopefully the child will pick up and learn, and hopefully that will educate as well as inform (them) of the dangers and risks of fires."
Mr Pilon said since the program's inception "many years ago" there has been a 95 per cent success rate in reducing children's fascination with fire.
"Hopefully it's a skill they'll keep with them forever," he said.
The fire service also offers a Safe Home program, which provides families with fire safety tips.
"That's where on-shift firefighters can come out to the home as well, and just do a general look around the home, provide a bit of fire safety knowledge as well," he said.
Other things Mr Pilon said families could do to for effective fire safety were to make sure they had an evacuation plan in place, check their smoke alarms were working and get everyone involved in the process.
"Ensuring the smoke alarms are working, and you can even involve the child by getting them to help test the smoke alarms on a weekly, monthly basis," he said.
"Even having an evacuation plan with your family so they know what to do if or when something does happen."
Mr Pilon said if families were unsure where to find information about fire safety, their local station would be able to help.
"If parents are concerned they can ring the local station, and fire fighters there can pass on information as well, or tell them the correct way to get the information."
Get the Morning Edition
Sign up for our daily wrap of the news you need to start your day.