Latest news with #CraigWaters
West Australian
a day ago
- General
- West Australian
New statistics released by DFES on Smoke Alarm Action Day show most burnt properties did not have alarms
More than half of WA properties engulfed by fire in the past year did not have a smoke alarm installed, shocking new statistics have revealed. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services released the figures on the first day of winter — which is also Smoke Alarm Action Day — in a warning for property owners to install and regularly test smoke alarms. Winter is typically the busiest time for house fires. There have been more than 1100 structure fires (782 in homes) since July 2024, a rate of more than three a day. Smoke alarms were fitted in less than 43 per cent of those fire-affected properties. According to DFES Deputy Commissioner Craig Waters, a fire can take off in seconds and engulf a room in minutes, trapping occupants and cutting off escape routes. 'At night, we lose our sense of smell, so a smoke alarm is an essential detection device to help save lives and can be the difference between a close escape and a catastrophe,' he said. 'If you don't have a smoke alarm or you're not regularly cleaning them or checking that your smoke alarms are in working order, you may be putting the lives of your loved ones at risk.' The need for working smoke alarms is also much higher for people in rural and regional areas who are further from emergency services. Research also shows that many people understand smoke alarms are a legal requirement in WA, but are not aware of the need to maintain the proper function of the devices. Mr Waters urged property owners to take five minutes to test smoke alarms and clean away dust and cobwebs. 'If your smoke alarm has a replaceable battery, change it every year,' he added. 'A beeping or chirping smoke alarm means a low battery or fault within you smoke alarm. 'All smoke alarms, regardless of type, must be replaced every 10 years.' He also encouraged property owners to install heat alarms in garages where lithium-ion devices are charged and 'highly destructive fires can start with little warning'.
9 News
3 days ago
- Climate
- 9 News
State warned to brace for drenching over the coming week as first cold front of winter hits
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here West Australians are no strangers to a bit of bad weather with a tornado hitting Bunbury and a microburst in Perth Hills in the past year alone. After a warm end to autumn, Perth's first cold front of winter is set to hit this WA Day long weekend. (9News) But, according to the experts, the next round is imminent and residents are being urged to get their homes ready. "We've started to see that the high pressure system to the south of the state that has kept a lot of these early season cold fronts at bay is starting to weaken," Gianni Colangelo from the Bureau of Meteorology said. Parts of the state are set to get drenched with a month's worth of rain over the next week, up to 100 millimetres, but forecasters can't say exactly where will be hardest hit. With the first cold front of the season due to hit on Monday, WA Day, authorities are urging people to act over the weekend. Parts of the state are set to get drenched with a month's worth of rain over the next week, up to 100 millimetres but forecasters can't say exactly where will be hardest hit. (9News) "It's time now to clean up around your home and also around your yard," Commissioner Craig Waters from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said. "To make sure that you've trimmed back all the trees that are overhanging your property, also making sure that your gutters are clean, you're checking the roof to make sure you don't have any loose tiles." Last year, SES volunteers responded to more than 1000 calls for assistance, spending an average of three and a half hours at each property, often for damage that could have been prevented. Last year, SES volunteers responded to more than 1000 calls for assistance, often for damage that could have been prevented. (9News) "It's time that we all took time to prepare ourselves, prepare your homes, do what you can to make the job of our State Emergency Service and other volunteers a lot easier," Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said. The front will extend from the north-west cape to the south-east and is expected to last three days. national Weather News Weather Western Australia Perth Rain Thunderstorm CONTACT US Auto news: Google Gemini AI assistant coming to new cars in 2025.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Popular pub announces sudden closure with events forced to cancel and future uncertain as owners share update
A BELOVED pub has closed down after struggling to find a new landlord. The sudden closure of The Rolleston Arms in Swindon has left event organisers desperately searching for new venues. 1 One claimed the pub had lost its licence "due to the actions of the local council and pub company", but that has since been debunked. Swindon Borough Council confirmed The Rolleston Arms had not lost its licence and that the closure is temporary. A spokesperson for Stonegate, the company that owns the pub, said: "The pub is currently closed until further notice while we look to recruit a new publican to run the premises. 'We're also going to be carrying out repair work to the site before it eventually reopens under a new publican, so it will be closed for a little while.' Stonegate also echoed Swindon Borough Council and stressed that there was no issue with the licence. This isn't the first time the pub has been closed, much to the woe of thirsty punters. It's also seen several landlords come and go. It was previously called Commercial Road Tavern and was run by Violet McLaren, who sold it in 2023. It was taken over by Daniel Harrison, but by January 2024, it was boarded up. In June that year, Charlotte Thornton and Craig Waters took over the venue. Larry Lamb reveals his Channel 5 show with his son has been AXED after he quit TV for a totally different job But they have since left the business. In February this year, The Rolleston Arms was closed again due to "unforeseen issues" with the cellar cooling system. The Sun has approached Stonegate for comment. The Rolleston Arms is far from the only British pub struggling with the uncertain times of the hospitality industry. A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point. In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service. Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens. Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become 'unsustainable'. 'It was hugely popular, but we just couldn't keep going,' Nick said. 'The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn't add up anymore.' Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening. Dubbed a 'labour of love' by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike. But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as 'emotional, financial and operational strain'. In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers: 'The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.' Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: 'It was more like home to us. And even award-winners haven't been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region's best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success. The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
