Enbridge Gas teams up with Oakville Fire Department to reduce fire and carbon monoxide deaths through Safe Community Project Zero

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas), the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) and Oakville Fire Department recently announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

Oakville Fire Department received 432 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario. 

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $450,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 16 years, the program has provided more than 101,000 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.  

“The best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide is to properly maintain fuel-burning equipment,” says Brad Martin, GTA West Operations Advisor, Enbridge Gas. “These alarms are a critical second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning, known as ‘the silent killer’. We’re proud to support our communities and raise awareness and help Ontarians implement these protection strategies.”

“Across Ontario there is a renewed focus on the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver these alarms to areas where they are needed most,” says John McBeth, Acting Ontario Fire Marshal and Acting Chair of the FMPFSC. “It’s a program that helps fire departments educate their communities about the requirements to have working smoke alarms installed in all Ontario homes and for all Ontario homes to have a carbon monoxide alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage.”

“Our partnership with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge is a huge step in protecting lives and homes in Oakville,” says Fire Chief Paul Boissonneault, Oakville Fire Department. “We thank our partners for their generous donation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that will be distributed in our community through local partners, providing tangible and essential support to those in need in our community. Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives and we all must take a focused approach to decreasing the number of fire fatalities in the province.”

About Oakville Fire 

The Oakville Fire Department (OFD) plays a vital role in moving the town towards its vision of being the most livable community. Oakville Fire’s three main functions are emergency response, fire prevention and education, and emergency planning. The OFD is a full-time fire service with nine fire stations and over 250 staff that cater to a diverse population of more than 233,000. OFD houses a state-of-the-art training facility that offers year-round fire training to keep firefighters up to date on the latest fire prevention and firefighting methods and equipment. 

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 X @FMPFSC.

About Enbridge Gas 

Enbridge Gas is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with 2023 marking its 175th anniversary of serving customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.9 million customers and is innovating to contribute to a lower-carbon energy future. 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 is owned by Enbridge (ENB), a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Visit enbridgegas.com to learn more.