Enbridge Gas Inc. collaborates with Ottawa Fire Services to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths through Project Zero
OTTAWA, NOVEMBER 4, 2019 – Today, Enbridge Gas Inc. and Ottawa Fire Services announced they are working together to bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
Ottawa Fire Services received 726 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Project Zero, a public education campaign that will provide more than 9,100 alarms to residents in 40 municipalities across Ontario.
This year, Enbridge Gas Inc. invested $275,000 in Project Zero, and over the past 11 years, the program has provided more than 44,356 alarms to Ontario fire departments.
“Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ for a reason, and we have proof 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 defense to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Ian Ross, Director, Eastern Region Operations, Enbridge Gas Inc.
“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 and Chief, Emergency Management. “It’s a program that municipal 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.”
“These alarms, when properly installed and maintained, help provide the early warning needed to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure,” said Ottawa Fire Chief Kim Ayotte. “This type of initiative is an excellent complement to our bi-annual Wake Up program, and I encourage every Ottawa resident to install and maintain their alarms.”
This year, prevention officers from Ottawa Fire Service will distribute the donated alarms to seniors and vulnerable occupants through various public education presentations and initiatives.
About Ottawa Fire Services
Ottawa Fire Services prides itself on being a modern fire service that evolves with the community it serves. As one of the largest composite fire services in Canada, teamwork is critical to our service. Our many divisions work together to protect the 2,796 km2 of our nation’s capital, while remaining committed to continuous improvement and innovation. Although fire suppression is the Service’s most visible division, Ottawa Fire Services does much more than fight fires. Our service includes special operations groups, and a robust public education team that serves as the first line of defense.
For more, follow us on Twitter @OttFire or @IncendiesOttawa.
About Enbridge Gas Inc.
Enbridge Gas Inc., formed on January 1, 2019 from the amalgamation of Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Distribution, is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with a more than 170-year history of providing safe and reliable service to customers. The distribution business serves about 3.7 million customers, heating over 75 per cent of Ontario homes. 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 Inc. is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. For more information, visit www.enbridgegas.com or follow us on Twitter @EnbridgeGas.
For more information, please contact:
- Kathy Ash, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council
- Tel: 1-866-379-6668 ext. 105
- Email: kathy.ash@firesafetycouncil.com
- Jen McNeely, Ottawa Fire Services
- Tel: 613-913-2812
- Email: jennifer.mcneely1@ottawa.ca
- Enbridge Gas Inc. Media
- Tel: 1-855-884-5112
- Email: enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com
