Enbridge Gas teams up with Middlesex Centre Fire Services to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths through Safe Community Project Zero
MEDIA RELEASE
Middlesex Centre, ON, December 4, 2024 – Today, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas), the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) and Middlesex Centre Fire Services announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
Middlesex Centre Fire Services received 162 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 Don Beauchamp, Manager Central Operations, 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.”
“Middlesex Centre is grateful for this generous donation from Project Zero and for Enbridge’s ongoing support of this important safety program,” says Mayor Aina DeViet. “Middlesex Centre Fire Services will see that these alarms go to where they are most needed, providing peace-of-mind to residents in our community.”
About Middlesex Centre Fire Services
Middlesex Centre Fire Services offer a first line of response for fires, accidents, and other emergencies in our community. Over 115 professional, paid-on-call firefighters and a handful of full-time staff work out of five fire stations located across the municipality. In 2023, firefighters responded to 435 calls for assistance, and provided inspections, investigation and education and awareness training across the municipality. Learn more at middlesexcentre.ca/fire.
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.
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Photo (left to right): Mark Ramsay of Enbridge Gas, Deputy Fire Chief Scott Roper, Ana Rudderham of Enbridge Gas, Don Beauchamp of Enbridge Gas, Mayor Aina DeViet; Fire Chief Colin Toth, and Jamie Kovacs of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
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Media Contacts:
- Heather Kepran, Municipality of Middlesex Centre
- Kathy Ash, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council
- Enbridge Gas Inc. Media