| Enbridge Gas and Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services are joining forces to help reduce fire and carbon monoxide deaths. The new project aims to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero. CKFES received 378 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide 7,500 alarms to residents in 35 municipalities across Ontario. This year, Enbridge Gas invested $225,000 in Project Zero, and over the past 12 years, the program has provided more than 50,000 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. “Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ for a reason, and we have proof that prevention saves lives.” says Steven Jelich, Director, Southwest Region 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 objective of Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Ontario communities who need them the most,” adds Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal. “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.” “Every member of our team is committed to reducing deaths and injuries in the home with our greatest emphasis on the protection of our most vulnerable members of the community,” explains C-K Fire Chief Chief Chris Case. “We are delighted to receive this donation which will allow us to continue our ground-breaking Community Fire Safety efforts which have protected so many families to date.” |