Enbridge Gas teams up with the Inter Township Fire Department

Enbridge Gas teams up with the Inter Township Fire Department to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths through Safe Community Project Zero

Today, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas) and the Inter Township Fire Department, serving Georgian Bluffs and Meaford, announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

The Inter Township Fire Department received 174 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) that will provide more than 10,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario.

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $315,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 15 years, the program has provided more than 86,000 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.

“Properly maintaining fuel burning equipment is the best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide, and an alarm is a critical second line of defense for protection. When we implement these strategies together, we protect our loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning, also known as the silent killer,” says Dylan Taylor, Utility Service Representative, Southeast Region, Enbridge Gas.

“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 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 carbon monoxide alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage.”

"By equipping our communities with these vital combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we're not just preventing tragedies, we're providing peace of mind. This is a proactive step towards eradicating the threat of fire and carbon monoxide, ensuring that every family can stay safe," says Jeff Gautreau, Fire Chief, Inter Township Fire Department.

About the Fire Department

Established in 1965, the Inter Township Fire Department serves the Township of Georgian Bluffs, as well as the western side of the Municipality of Meaford. The department also often assist calls in the neighbouring communities of Wiarton, Owen Sound and Chatsworth. In addition to Chief Jeff Gautreau and Deputy Chief Andy Redmond, the department is supported by a team of 40 volunteer firefighters.

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 Inc.

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 leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. 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.

In the photo

Left side: Georgian Bluff’s Deputy Mayor Grant Pringle, CAO Niall Lobley, and Councillor Isaac Shouldice. Right side: Dylan Taylor and Tim Campbell from Enbridge Gas, ITFD Deputy Fire Chief Andy Redmond.