Since Tuesday, Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue has been going door-to-door distributing multi-gas alarms to households in Wheatley.
So far, Chatham-Kent firefighters and volunteers have distributed 440 alarms and have visited over 500 houses.
Door-to-door distribution will resume early next week to continue meeting the demand.
Residents outside the evacuation zone can pick up a multi-gas alarm at the Wheatley Resource Centre, open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. located at 108 Talbot Road East.
“So far, we’ve been met with an excellent response from the community,” said Assistant Fire Chief Neil Woods, in a media release.
“These alarms were specifically chosen for the efficacy in detecting the active gases in the community and offer the people of Wheatley an extra measure of safety and peace of mind that they deserve.”
Municipal officials say the alarms being distributed were chosen specifically for Wheatley for their capability to detect methane gas.
H2S gas occurs along with natural gas, namely methane, which is the highest risk associated with leaking wells.
H2S is readily detectable by its odour at very low concentrations, while methane is odourless and colourless and an explosive mixture can build up in enclosed spaces, leading to explosion.
The alarms are being paid for using a provincial grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, who provided $280,000 in funding to implement local priority projects to enhance emergency preparedness within its communities and prevent petroleum-related emergencies.
If you detect or suspect gas in your home, call 911 immediately.