Enbridge Gas Inc. and Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service are once again working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
On Wednesday, the local fire department received 282 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero — a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
The donation is part of more than 14,500 alarms being distributed to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.
This year, Enbridge Gas invested $450,000 in Safe Community Project Zero — Kawartha Lakes received $18,200 — and over the past 16 years, the program has provided more than 101,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.
When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a byproduct of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.
“The best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide is to properly maintain fuel-burning equipment,” noted Nicholas Eng, operations supervisor with Enbridge Gas.
“These alarms are a critical second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning, known as ‘the silent killer.’ We’re proud to support our communities and raise awareness and help Ontarians implement these protection strategies.”
Eng added that as the company continues to expand services into more rural areas — Enbridge is currently installing a pipeline to service Bobcaygeon and surrounding area — the focus on ensuring customer safety, as a result of the increase in gas burning appliances, also grows.
“Smoke detectors and CO2 alarms are crucial items to preventing deaths,” said Eng, acknowledging not all homes have combination units like those recently donated. “Safety isn’t just our top priority … It’s our duty.”
Kawartha Lakes fire prevention and public educator Katie Dukelow adds the partnership dovetails perfectly with fire prevention month and the local fire service’s Saved By The Beep community awareness campaign that wrapped up recently.
“It’s important that these initiatives continue so that people don’t fall into complacency,” said Dukelow.
“Too many people think ‘it won’t happen to me,’ but given the volume of home visits we did this year and previous years, we know there are those who are non-compliant or don’t have working alarms.”
Dukelow notes that while it’s not excusable, such equipment may not be at the top of people’s minds as the cost of living increases.
“I think times have been tough … It may come down to spending $100 for a smoke detector or $100 for groceries,” said Dukelow.
“Initiatives like these help keep fire safety in the forefront of peoples’ minds … Because when there’s a fire, you don’t just lose your residence, you can lose everything — including your life.”