It’s unreasonable that in 2024 people are still unprotected in their homes, says deputy fire chief Greg Saunders.
“I think everyone is aware it is the law to have working smoke alarms and CO alarms in your home. Unfortunately we have circumstances where we respond to incidents in our community where that’s still not the case. We responded to a fire two weeks ago where there were no working smoke or CO alarms, and charges were laid.”
Saunders said Enbridge Gas, the Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council and North Bay Fire Department are aggressively working together to bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
The fire department has received 246 smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The alarms are part of a public education campaign that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.
Enbridge Gas has invested $450,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 16 years, the program has provided more than 101,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.
“That fire two weeks ago, where there were no working fire alarms, could have been far worse. If that fire happened at 2 a.m. instead of 2 p.m., I shudder what the result of that fire would have been,” Saunders told local media following Tuesday’s press conference.
“People need that early warning to safely evacuate their home. It’s not reasonable in 2024 that there’s people in North Bay who are unprotected. Everyone should know. Everyone should have that level of protection.”
Saunders said the alarms will be distributed to those who are in financial need.
He said the fire department is working with community partners to make sure families in need receive them.