WELLINGTON COUNTY – Enbridge Gas has been working with local fire departments on a project to bring carbon monoxide-related deaths to zero.
Puslinch Fire and Rescue Services received 144 detectors through Project Zero – a public education campaign that will provide 7,500 alarms to residents in 35 municipalities across Ontario.
“Ensuring that everyone in our community has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms properly installed in their homes is a goal we are always striving toward through our various public education initiatives,” stated Puslinch Fire Chief Luis Gomes.
“Project Zero has made us better equipped to reach that goal.”
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.
“Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ for a reason, and we have proof that prevention saves lives,” said Murray Costello, director, Southeast 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.”
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.
Objective
“The objective of Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Ontario communities who need them the most,” said 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.”
