A WYNDHAM community centre has been recognised for educating refugees about fire safety.
Wyndham Community and Education Centre was acknowledged by the CFA for its fire safety presentations for new arrivals.
The CFA’s annual fire awareness awards recognise the extraordinary work of people, groups and organisations to reduce the number and effects of fires.
In the past three years, WCEC’s presentations have taught hundreds of Karen refugees the importance of having smoke alarms installed in their houses.
Refugees are also taught how to react when an alarm goes off and to change batteries twice a year.
The centre’s settlement services co-ordinator, Craig Spicer said the aim was to make sure every new arrival heard the presentation because it helped save lives.
As reported by the Weekly in August, Karen refugee Lor Na helped save her sons, aged 6 and 11, and her frail 80-year-old father from a fire that engulfed their Laverton home.
Ms Na had only recently heard the centre’s fire safety presentation and had subsequently changed the batteries in her smoke alarm.
“She realised that when the alarm was ringing she had to get everyone out and she knew how to call Triple-0,” Mr Spicer said.
CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson said the awards showed the great work being done by community groups to ensure other members of the community stay safe.
