On October 10, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas) and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue received 342 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero-a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.
This year, Enbridge Gas 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.
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 by-product 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," says Phil Baron, Operations Supervisor, Thunder Bay, 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."
"Across Ontario there is a renewed focus on the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver these alarms to areas where they are needed most," says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the FMPFSC. "It's a program that helps fire departments educate their communities about the requirements to have working smoke alarms installed in all Ontario homes and for all Ontario homes to have a carbon monoxide alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage."
"Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is very appreciative of the continued support of Enbridge Gas. The donation of these alarms has given us the ability to supply and install combination smoke/CO alarms through our SAFE Program," says Fire Chief Dave Paxton. "The SAFE Program installs smoke/CO alarms for persons who live in a home they own and who have legitimate physical, financial or cognitive function limitations."