Enbridge Gas helps Lakeshore Fire Department reduce fire and carbon monoxide deaths

LAKESHORE, ON – Enbridge Gas, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Lakeshore Fire Department have announced they are working to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

Lakeshore Fire Department received 216 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero – a public education campaign that will provide over 16,600 alarms to residents in 70 municipalities across Ontario.

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $500,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 13 years, the program has provided more than 68,000 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, odorless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.

“Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ for a reason, and we have proof that prevention saves lives. We know that the best way to avoid carbon monoxide exposure is to eliminate it at the source by properly maintaining fuel-burning equipment, and that the alarms are a critical second line of defense to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Steven Jelich, Director, Southwest Region Operations, Enbridge Gas.

“The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Ontario communities who need them the most,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. “It’s a program that fire departments can adopt to help educate their communities about the requirement for all Ontario homes to have a CO alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage.”

“Lakeshore Fire Department is proud and thankful to partner with Enbridge Gas and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council on this important initiative,” says Fire Chief Don Williamson. “Firefighting staff will make door-to-door visits to pre-determined, high-risk areas within Lakeshore. Together, we will ensure our residents have the alarms they require to ensure an early warning and ultimately a safe and happy outcome.”