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Fire Warning Systems Needed In SchoolsThe State Government needs to give urgent consideration to a better fire monitoring system in schools, according to The Nationals’ MP Peter Hall. By The Nationals - 16th February 2007 - Back to News Mr Hall raised the issue in Parliament this week following a number of fires in the Gippsland region in recent years, including one at Traralgon Secondary College in 2005 and large fire at South Street Primary School in Moe last week.
Mr Hall believes there should be a system that monitors for fires in much the same way as more than 90 percent of schools already have intruder alarm systems fitted throughout their buildings.
"I asked the question of the Education Minister this week in Parliament as to how many schools have an early fire-detection systems installed and also whether there was a method by which the intruder alarm systems, which are fitted to some 94 percent of Victorian schools, can be modified to also provide early fire detection warnings.
"The Minister didn’t know the answer to either of those questions, although he has said he will investigate now that it has been raised," Mr Hall said.
"It does make sense that something needs to be done. These fires occur on a regular basis, it seems, at schools across the State."
Mr Hall said the cost of better surveillance and early warning systems was likely to be less than the physical and intellectual property damage to schools.
"The cost of replacing classrooms is onerous enough, but what also must be taken into consideration is the lost preparation time undertaken by teachers and students and the materials that go up in smoke.
"It can be a great stress on students, especially primary school students who see their school as a safe place and can be very distressed when it burns down."
Mr Hall said he wanted the State Government to consider the issue as a matter of urgency as several major fires have destroyed school buildings already this year.
"There is a central system already in place to monitor intruder alarms; surely there is a way in which early fire detection warnings can be similarly created."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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