Enbridge Gas Teams Up With Bluewater Fire Services To Reduce Fire And Carbon Monoxide Deaths

by Bob Montgomery

Enbridge Gas and Bluewater Fire Services recently announced they are partnering on a project to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

Bluewater Fire Services received 144 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero, which is a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario. 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.

Enbridge Gas Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator Megan Shannon says the best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide is to properly maintain fuel-burning equipment. “These alarms are a critical second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning, known as ‘the silent killer’.”

Bluewater Fire Services members have already conducted a door-to-door campaign in the villages and put most of these alarms in service. “While conducting the door-to-door campaign, firefighters take the time to educate the residents on the importance of having working smoke and CO2 alarms in their home,” says Dave Erb, Bluewater Fire Chief.

Left to right: Dave Erb, Bluewater Fire Chief; Megan Shannon, Coordinator Stakeholder Engagement, Enbridge Gas; Laurie Spence Bannerman, CAO Municipality of Bluewater; Paul Klopp, Mayor; John Becker, Deputy Mayor; Peter Walden, Stanley East Councillor. 
Photo courtesy of Municipality of Bluewater