Newmarket and Aurora fire department distributing combination fire and carbon monoxide alarms to those in need

Last year, Central York Fire Services responded to 86 fire calls and 187 carbon monoxide calls, chief says

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 23, 2021
Lisa Queen

Central York Fire Services have teamed up with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council to bring fire- and carbon monoxide-related injuries and deaths to zero in Newmarket and Aurora.

The fire department has received 342 combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors through Safe Community Project Zero, a public education campaign providing more than 16,600 alarms to those in need in 70 municipalities across Ontario.

Enbridge Gas invested $500,000 in this year’s program.

Over the last 13 years, the project has provided more than 68,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments for distribution.

“Last year in Central York, there were 86 fires, primarily residential, and 187 calls for carbon monoxide present in the home,” Fire Chief Ian Laing said.

“Our goal is to protect the safety of our residents by ensuring every home in Newmarket and Aurora has a functioning smoke alarm on each level of the home and carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas. Having working alarms installed provides residents with the early warning required to escape safely. Enbridge’s generous contribution is helping us get closer to meeting our goal.”

Carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer” because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless flammable gas that can cause potentially fatal poisoning, Steve McGivery, Enbridge’s director of GTA East Operations, said.

“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 defence to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” he said.

Safe Community Project Zero delivers combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Ontario communities who need them the most, Jon Pegg, Ontario’s fire marshal and chair of the fire marshal’s public fire safety council, said.

“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,” he said.

For more information about Central York Fire Services, visit cyfs.ca.