Enbridge Gas donates 264 smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in East Gwillimbury

Donation will support York Region Children’s Aid Society

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 21, 2023
Simon Martin

Enbridge Gas and East Gwillimbury Emergency and Community Safety Services (ECSS) announced a partnership to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero with the donation of 264 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Safe Community Project Zero is a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and will provide more than 8,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario. The local donation will support the York Region Children’s Aid Society in its efforts to provide families, youth, and young adults with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for their homes.

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.

“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 defence to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Mike Ovsonka, an operations manager with Enbridge Gas.

When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to help occupants escape from a fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a byproduct of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.

“Working smoke/CO alarms save lives. Across Ontario we’re seeing far too many deaths that could be prevented with the help of working alarms,” fire Chief Robert McKenzie said. “Programs like Safe Community Project Zero allows our department to educate our communities about fire and life safety, but most importantly ways to prevent emergencies from happening.”

Ginelle Skerritt, York Region Children’s Aid Society CEO, was thankful for the donation.

“Today’s donation reinforces how community partnerships contribute to keeping the children, youth and families of York Region safe through prevention and support. This donation of fire safety equipment, to be given to families, youth, and young adults who do not have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms will contribute towards a safer York Region,” she said.