Summary
- Take your fire safety responsibilities seriously and keep your guests safe.
- Make sure staff know what to do in an emergency.
- Run regular evacuation drills.
- Keep internal passageways clear of gear and bedding.
- Keep fire exits free from snow.
- Do regular checks of fire equipment to make sure it's compliant.
- Clean and test detectors regularly.
- Make sure fire indicator panels are checked by suitably qualified persons.
- Service chimneys, flues and wood heaters before every season.
Guest and staff fire safety
Everyone staying on site needs to be aware of what they can do to prevent fires starting. The following advice applies to both staff and guests using accommodation. Make sure you communicate this advice to everyone:
- Dry your snow gear and clothes on a hanger in the drying room.
- Keep paths to exit doors clear.
- Use official kitchen areas and equipment for cooking.
- Keep smoke alarms uncovered so they work effectively.
- Charge your devices safely on hard surfaces like a table.
- Don't hang clothes and snow gear on emergency equipment or on heaters in your room.
- Don't use portable stoves, or other cooking appliances in bedrooms.
- Don't overload power points.
- Don't charge devices on beds or blankets.
- Don't tune skis and snowboards in bedrooms. Hot wax can drip onto the carpet and make toxic fumes. Hot irons can start a fire if left on. Snow gear can also block emergency exit routes.
Consider setting up a charging station in your accommodation to prevent battery fires in bedrooms.
Remember, a callout fee may be charged if a fire alarm is set off and it is a false alarm.
Create a tip sheet with fire safety reminders to put up around your accommodation.
Keep exits clear
Alpine doors generally open inwards because snow can build up outside.
Emergency exits need to be kept clear and unlocked from the inside. Make sure your guests don't leave their gear or possessions blocking doorways and exit routes. This is so people can escape if there is a fire.
Be careful when evacuating snow-covered buildings
Watch out when evacuating a building if there has been heavy snowfalls. Snow on the roof can start to melt quickly and move without warning. This is called 'snow shedding'.
Pre-season fire safety checklist
The following checklists are designed to make sure you don't forget important steps in the lead up to snow season. Use these lists to help you develop a routine for fire safety on site.
Documents to be displayed
Review and update these documents as required:
1. Emergency Management Plan
- Check contact and building details are up to date each year before snow season.
2. Fire Orders
- Clear instructions listing out what to do in a fire.
- Emergency phone number should be clearly visible in numerals and letters.
- Location and address of accommodation clearly listed.
- Print out and attach to wall at or near each entry/exit and on back of doors in rooms where people sleep.
3. Evacuation plans
- Illustrated floor plan which identifies all exit routes, emergency exits, fire fighting equipment and emergency assembly points.
- Whole building evacuation plan must be near main entry/exit, preferably near fire alarm panel.
- Individual evacuation plans should be displayed next to fire orders on back of doors in rooms where people sleep and in common areas.
4. Triple Zero (000) signage
CFA can provide accommodation owners and managers with a sign which reads 'In an emergency call 000'. These signs can be put on glass doors facing out, so people outside can see them. This is useful if they have evacuated and are looking for the name of the lodge before calling emergency services.
Regular maintenance checklist
Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) are safety features designed to protect your guests if there is a fire. They include exit doors, emergency lighting and fire hydrants.
Owners are responsible for ensuring ESMs are maintained and operational.
CFA recommends checking your ESMs between compliance inspections, as equipment might be removed, moved or damaged by guests.
Visit Essential Safety Measures for Business and CFA's Alpine Essential Safety Measures video playlist for more information.
Reduce false alarms with regular cleaning and maintenance
Monitored Fire Indicator Panels (FIP) notify emergency services automatically when triggered. It is illegal for you to reset the alarm without a reasonable excuse.
When an unmonitored Fire Indicator Panel goes off, someone on site needs to call Triple Zero (000) if it is determined to be a fire.
Reduce false alarms from your monitored FIP by regular inspection and servicing of your detectors. Detectors can be set off by:
- moths
- dust
- steam
- vaping or smoking
- aerosols like deodorant, fly spray
- nearby building work
- lack of maintenance.
If you are doing building works, consult your fire equipment maintenance company for options to limit alarm activations.
If steam is setting off the alarm you might want to change the type of detector or move it. Please contact the Alpine Resorts Victoria Municipal Building Surveyor.
Page last updated: Friday, 18 September 2026 4:00:38 PM