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Smoke and fire alarms distributed through New Tecumseth Fire Rescue

November 18, 2021   ·   0 Comments

New Tecumseth Fire and Rescue, Enbridge Gas, and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council announced they are working together to reduce fire and carbon monoxide related deaths locally.

New Tecumseth Fire and Rescue has received 234 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.

“We know that working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. We are grateful for the support of Enbridge Gas to allow us to provide potentially life-saving combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to those in our community who may not otherwise be able to have access to them,” says New Tecumseth Director of Emergency Services and Fire Chief Dan Heydon.

Enbridge Gas invested $500,000 in Safe Community Project Zero this year 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, ordourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.

A common risk is from a home furnace that is not working properly. 

“Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ for a reason, and we have proof that prevention saves lives,” said Bike Balkanci, director GTA West/Niagara Operations Enbridge Gas. “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.”

The alarm will be provided to people who need them and otherwise do not have one in their home.

“We know that working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives,” said Jon Peg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. “It’s a program that fire department can adopt to help educate their communities about the requirement of all Ontario homes to have a CO alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage.”

The Ontario Fire Code require that every place of residence have smoke alarms installed and kept in working condition.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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