Emergency response services

Fire investigations

The Queensland Fire Department has over 60 fire investigators. They determine the causes of both accidental and deliberately lit fires.

After a fire, investigators examine electrical and gas appliances (and other items)—at the scene, and in the laboratory—to find the cause of the fire.

Information gathered on the cause of fires is used to:

  • help prevent future fires
  • educate the community on fire danger
  • identify and recall dangerous products from the market
  • improve firefighting and building fire safety.

What homes require smoke alarms?

From 1 January 2022, landlords must install interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms in residential rental properties.

While all other existing dwellings must be fully compliant by 2027, owners should begin transitioning to the new requirements. For example, they must replace alarms that are faulty or more than 10 years past manufacture date with new photoelectric alarms.

The new law requires smoke alarms to be installed in every bedroom, in hallways and on every storey.

Your smoke alarms must:

  • be photoelectric
  • comply with Australian Standard 3786-2014
  • be interconnected so when one goes off, they all go off
  • be less than 10 years old
  • operate when tested.

If you need to replace a smoke alarm hardwired to your power supply, the new alarm must also be hardwired. Otherwise, your alarms can be powered by a 10-year non-removable battery. Existing dwellings may have a combination of both.

A licenced electrician will need to install hardwired alarms, whereas no license is required to install battery-operated alarms. Interconnection can be either wireless or through hardwiring.

Find out more

Last updated:
15 October 2025