Project Zero campaign delivers 342 smoke/carbon monoxide detectors to Clarington

Home and fire safety in Clarington improved by a factor of 342 this week after Clarington Emergency and Fire Services received that many combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as part of the Safe Community Project Zero campaign.

The campaign is an annual province-wide Enbridge Gas initiative with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, with the alarms distributed throughout Clarington with a focus on those who are deemed high-risk.

“Hundreds of our families will be able to enjoy a snug and secure night’s sleep because of this initiative,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “A heartfelt thank you to Enbridge for this generous gift and to our amazing Clarington firefighters for their dedication to keeping us safe.”

Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels. 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.

“The best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide is to properly maintain fuel-burning equipment,” said GTA East Operations Supervisor Nick Eng. “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.”

The program also 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.

“Installing detectors, like the combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms provided to Clarington through Project Zero, is a critical first step in improving home safety and reducing CO and fire-related injuries and deaths in our community,” added Clarington Fire Chief Dave Speed.

John McBeth, the Acting Ontario Fire Marshal and Acting Chair of the FMPFSC, said there is a “renewed focus” on the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes. “The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver these alarms to areas where they are needed most.”

Clarington Emergency and Fire Services offers additional fire and CO safety tips, including regularly testing alarms, replacing batteries when needed and checking the expiration date.

To learn more, visit www.clarington.net/FireSafety.