Only one in five Victorians have smoke detectors in a household bedroom.

CFA District 17 assistant chief fire officer Steve Pitcher said this could be due to many people still believing house fires start in the kitchen, which wasn't always the case.

"First and foremost, having smoke alarms in the bedroom is to save lives and give occupants of a house an early indication that there is fire or smoke in the house and to allow them the time to evacuate the house," he said.

Mr Pitcher said an enacting a fire plan that all house occupants know could be the key to ensuring as little smoke is inhaled as possible, as the smallest amount could lead be fatal.

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"The dangerous part is you don't smell when you are asleep," Mr Pitcher said.

"An operating and interlinked smoke detector gives early indication that there is smoke or fire in a house.

"It gives the occupants the chance to get out of the house and survive."

In 2020, 22 people were killed in house fires in Victoria, a jump from 16 fatalities in 2019.

"The majority of fires started at night between 9pm and 6am and over 70 per cent of those started in bedrooms and living rooms," Mr Pitcher said.

"It's scary but sad, but half of the 18 properties where the fires broke out, didn't have any working smoke alarms."

Mr Pitcher said after investigation, the reality was so many people took the battery out of the smoke alarms for other uses.

He said the CFA and FRV want it to be legislated that smoke alarms be interconnected so when one goes off, they all do.

"Legislation does require that smoke alarms be installed outside every sleeping area on every level of the house," Mr Pitcher said.

Mr Pitcher said fire pits, a popular item this time of year, needed to be away and clear of any flammable materials.

"It needs to be attended by an adult and with water handy if the fire does get out of control," he said.

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In winter, fire places and heaters must have enough clearance from furniture, wood piles, and other items and used according to manufactures instructions, Mr Pitcher explained.

"The minute the smoke detectors go off, and there is a decent amount of smoke in the house, that's the opportune time to get everyone aware and out of the house," he said.

"Ring 000 and let professionally trained people come and put the fire out as quick as they can."

Mr Pitcher recommended smoke detector batteries need to be changed and tested every 12 months.

"It's so sad we have lost so many lives in Victoria through non-operable or no smoke detectors present," Mr Pitcher.

"They are a cheap piece of equipment. They are so simple and so effective."

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