“It Saved My Family”: The 2025 Wake Up Call for Queensland Homes

A Wake-Up Call That Saved a Life

In September 2025, Australian media personality Mike Goldman shared how a simple smoke alarm saved his family’s life when fire tore through their Brisbane home.

In an emotional interview with The Courier-Mail, Goldman said he was jolted awake in the early hours by the piercing sound of his smoke alarm, giving his family just enough time to escape the blaze.

He now serves as an ambassador for “Checktember,” a national campaign urging Australians to test, replace, and upgrade their smoke alarms every spring. His message is simple but powerful: “Check it before it checks out.” (couriermail.com.au)

Why Smoke Alarms Still Fail in 2025

Despite stronger laws and growing public awareness, many Queensland homes remain unprotected by compliant smoke alarms. In some cases, alarms are more than a decade old, disconnected, or the wrong type entirely.

Since 2017, Queensland has been phasing in new smoke alarm legislation after several tragic house fires. The final stage begins on 1 January 2027, requiring interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms:

• In every bedroom

• In connecting hallways

• On every level of the home

(fire.qld.gov.au)

To make compliance even stricter, from August 2025, the REIQ property contract now requires sellers to declare whether their home meets these alarm standards.
If not, buyers can claim up to 0.15% of the sale price as compensation. (ensurelegal.com.au)

Why Queensland Uses Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

Queensland’s legislation specifies photoelectric smoke alarms because they’re proven to detect fires earlier, especially slow, smouldering ones that fill rooms with toxic smoke before flames appear.

Unlike older ionisation alarms, which mainly respond to fast-flaming fires, photoelectric models use a light sensor to detect fine smoke particles. When smoke scatters the beam, the alarm triggers — often minutes earlier than older designs.

Our Master Electricians explain that early detection can make all the difference between safe escape and tragedy. Photoelectric alarms are also:

• ✅ Less prone to false alarms from cooking or steam

• ✅ Compliant with Queensland’s 2027 standards

• ✅ Safer for bedrooms and hallways, where smouldering fires often start

And because the law requires interconnected alarms, when one sounds, they all sound, giving your family the best possible warning time.

The Fallon Solutions $198 Smoke Alarm Health Check

At Fallon Solutions, we’ve helped Queensland families stay safe for over 60 years, and we’re proud to support the same life-saving message Mike Goldman is sharing this spring: check your smoke alarms before it’s too late.

For just $198, our licensed electricians will:

• ✅ Test and inspect every smoke alarm in your property

• ✅ Verify compliance with Queensland’s 2027 standards

• ✅ Replace or upgrade outdated alarms if required

• ✅ Provide a certificate of compliance for your records

• ✅ Offer practical advice to keep your home safe all year round

Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or property manager, a simple smoke alarm check today could prevent disaster tomorrow.

Don’t Wait for a Close Call

Mike Goldman’s story is a powerful reminder that seconds count in a fire, and a working smoke alarm can mean the difference between escape and tragedy.

With Queensland’s next compliance deadline fast approaching and Checktember reminding everyone to act, now is the perfect time to schedule a professional smoke alarm inspection.

Protect your family and your property this spring with Fallon Solutions — your trusted home safety experts for over 60 years.

Book your $198 Smoke Alarm Compliance & Health Check today and make sure your alarms are ready when it matters most.

Call us on 1300 712 028 🌐 fallonsolutions.com.au/electrical/smoke-alarms