Even though the fire danger period has ended in Manningham, it's important to make sure you're prepared all year round.

Property maintenance, checking smoke alarms, management of plugs, wiring and cables and being careful with open flames are just some of the ways that you can be vigilant about fire safety and reduce the risk of fire happening in your home and surrounds.

Here are some helpful tips for you to stay fire prepared:

Property maintenance

If you live within a bushfire prone area, it is essential to maintain your property all year round. Keep any grass cut to less than 10cm. Keep woodpiles away from the house and regularly clear your gutters of leaf litter. Use pebbles or rocks in your garden around plants instead of flammable mulch and remove dry grass, leaves twigs and loose bark from your property.

You can find more educational resources on preparing your property by visiting the CFA website.

Checking smoke alarms

Only working smoke alarms save lives. Check you smoke alarms this month to make sure they are free of dust and cobwebs, have new batteries and - if they are older than ten years - it is time to replace the smoke alarm.

Open flames

Cigarettes, candles, incense and oil burners can cause fires. Always extinguish open flames or cigarettes before leaving home or going to sleep. Only use candles, incense and oil burners on stable surfaces that will not burn. And never leave an open flame unattended.

Electric power and cables

Overloaded power boards can start fires. Do not overload power boards or piggyback plugs into one socket. Maintain good airflow and keep cables neat.

Firefighters attend many preventable fires each year caused by electrical devices. Don’t charge your phone or laptop on flammable surfaces such as your bed. Only use approved charging devices. Charge on non-flammable surfaces and unplug them as soon as they are charged.

Visit Fire Safety Victoria to download a home safety booklet.