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Enbridge Gas teams up with Woolwich Fire Services to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths through Safe Community Project Zero

Posted on Thursday January 12, 2023

Woolwich Township, ON – Today, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas), the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) and Woolwich Fire Services announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

Woolwich Fire Services received 240 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide more than 8,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario. 

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $250,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 14 years, the program has provided more than 76,000 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 evidence shows 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 Shawn Artt, Supervisor Operations, Southeast Region – Waterloo South, Enbridge Gas.   

“The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to residents in Ontario communities who need them the most,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the FMPFSC. “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.”

“Local Fire Departments are a large part of keeping our communities safe, not only by fighting fires or attending medical calls, but also through public education”, says Dennis Aldous, Woolwich Fire Chief.  “As fire service personnel, we know the importance of a working smoke alarm and working carbon monoxide alarm; we are thankful for this investment and collaboration which will allow us an opportunity educate residents on how to protect themselves against carbon monoxide poisoning.”

About the Fire Department

The Township of Woolwich Fire Department currently operates six Fire stations.  The department is made up of approximately 150 volunteer fire fighters and officers who serve the Township and its surrounding areas. There are 7 pumper trucks, 5 rescue trucks, 4 tankers and an aerial apparatus. For more information, visit www.woolwich.ca/fire.  Follow @WoolwichTownshipFire on Facebook, or @WoolwichFire on Instagram and Twitter.

About the FMPFSC

The FMPFSC was established in 1993 with a mission to help create “a world where no one is hurt by fire.” Chaired by the Ontario Fire Marshal, the FMPFSC promotes fire prevention and public education through sponsorships and partnerships with various groups and individuals with an interest in public safety. Follow the FMPFSC on Twitter @FMPFSC.

About Enbridge Gas

Enbridge Gas Inc., formed on January 1, 2019 from the amalgamation of Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Distribution, is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with a more than 170-year history of providing safe and reliable service to customers. The distribution business serves about 3.8 million customers, heating over 75 per cent of Ontario homes. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas Inc. is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution.  For more information, visit www.enbridgegas.com or follow us on Twitter @EnbridgeGas.

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For more information, please contact:

Contact Name, Dennis Aldous, Woolwich Fire Chief
Tel: 519-669-6011
Email: daldous@woolwich.ca

Kathy Ash, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council
Tel: 1-866-379-6668 ext. 105
Email: kathy.ash@firesafetycouncil.com

Enbridge Gas Inc. Media
Email: enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com