Enbridge Gas Distribution Helps the Collingwood Fire Department and the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths
COLLINGWOOD, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 5, 2011) - Enbridge Gas Distribution, the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council and Collingwood Fire Department will work together to deliver more than 200 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Town of Collingwood homes through Project Zero.
Project Zero is a public education program aimed at reducing residential fire and carbon monoxide deaths to zero. Enbridge Gas Distribution supported the inaugural launch in Toronto in 2009 and helped expand the program to nine Ontario communities in 2010. This year's $100,000 donation by Enbridge will allow for the expansion of Project Zero to an additional 11 Ontario communities, including the Town of Collingwood.
"It is essential for every home in Ontario to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. These life saving devices alert occupants to the presence of smoke or deadly carbon monoxide gas, giving them time to get out safely," said Fire Marshal Ted Wieclawek. "We are delighted to be a partner in this life-saving initiative."
"At Enbridge, safety is an ongoing priority and as part of our Safe Community program, we are proud to help bring Project Zero to the Town of Collingwood," said Nick Thalassinos, General Manager, Enbridge Gas Distribution. "Reminding customers about the importance of properly maintaining fuel-burning equipment and installing a carbon monoxide alarm is part of our efforts to promote natural gas safety."
The alarms will be distributed to homes in neighbourhoods where the number of residential fires and fire-related deaths and injuries have been higher than average. During 2010, 84 people died as a result of fires in Ontario and 75 of those deaths resulted from residential fires.
In Ontario, it is the law that every home must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. While carbon monoxide alarms are not currently legislated in Ontario, they are highly recommended by the Ontario Fire Marshal. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, when properly installed and maintained, help provide the early warning that is needed 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. It is important that all fuel-burning equipment be properly maintained to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Carbon monoxide alarms are recommended as a second line of defense to protect against the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Our Community Partners
VON
"The VON Adult Day Program is pleased to be working with Enbridge and the Collingwood Fire Department to distribute smoke alarms to all seniors who are without one or have a smoke alarm that is 10 years old. It is essential for every home in Ontario to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms," said Fiona Behan program coordinator VON. VON Adult Day Program in Collingwood is delighted to be partnered with other local agencies and the Fire Department in Collingwood to assist in this life saving initiative. VON is assisting the Collingwood Fire Department identify at risk seniors who may not have a smoke alarm or have one that is over 10 years old.
The VON Adult Day Program in Collingwood provides social recreation programs to seniors who are isolated in the community or have a chronic disease. VON also offers periods of respite to caregivers.
VON Canada is a national health organization and registered charity offering a wide range of community health care solutions that meet the needs of Canadians from coast to coast. We are dedicated to being a leader in the delivery of social and health services. VON is committed to quality improvement and is accredited by Accreditation Canada.
Community Mental Health Services
Peace of Mind
"Each one of us has a desire and a right to live safely without worry. Thanks to the initiative and foresight of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge a major step is being taken to reach out and give peace of mind a chance to grow through Project Zero," said Dale Graham MSW RSW /Admin. Co-Lead
Today, Collingwood continues to be a vibrant attractive place to live, to raise families and work. Each year over 2.5 million visitors experience a taste of this active lifestyle community.
To keep us safe, fire and safety specialists have begun to educate about the silent, invisible danger of carbon monoxide. An important key to dealing with this problem is awareness and detection.
Carbon monoxide detectors distributed through this program will give people one of the greatest gifts of all - peace of mind.
We congratulate the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, Enbridge Gas and thank the Collingwood Fire Department for the opportunity to participate in this undertaking to make our community a safer place to live.
About the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council
The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (Council) is a registered charity established in 1993 with a mission to help create "a world where no one is hurt by fire." The Council, chaired by the Ontario Fire Marshal and supported by the Office of the Fire Marshal, operates at arm's length from the government and promotes fire prevention and public education through sponsorships and partnerships with various groups and individuals with an interest in public safety.
About Enbridge
Enbridge delivers more than the energy people count on; we deliver on our promise to help make communities better places to live.
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. It is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution and one of the 2010 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Enbridge Inc. has been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011 and is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Enbridge Gas Distribution and its affiliates distribute natural gas to about 1.9 million customers in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and New Brunswick. For more information visit www.enbridgegas.com.
Debbie Forrest
(613) 498-6247 x100
debbie.forrest@firesafetycouncil.com
or
Fire Prevention Officer
Robert Bolt
Collingwood Fire Department
(705) 445-3920
rbolt@collingwood.ca
or
Enbridge Gas Distribution
Chris Meyer
(416) 753-6626
chris.meyer@enbridge.com
www.enbridgegas.com
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Fiona Behan
Program Coordinator
VON Adult Day Program
705 444-2457
fiona.behan@von.ca
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Ulla Rose
Site Manager - VON
Simcoe County
707 737-5044 (226)
ulla.rose@von.ca
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Mr. Dale Graham
MSW RSW /Admin. Co-Lead
Community Mental Health Clinic
459 Hume St., Collingwood
(705) 444-6600
Project Zero is a public education program aimed at reducing residential fire and carbon monoxide deaths to zero. Enbridge Gas Distribution supported the inaugural launch in Toronto in 2009 and helped expand the program to nine Ontario communities in 2010. This year's $100,000 donation by Enbridge will allow for the expansion of Project Zero to an additional 11 Ontario communities, including the Town of Collingwood.
"It is essential for every home in Ontario to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. These life saving devices alert occupants to the presence of smoke or deadly carbon monoxide gas, giving them time to get out safely," said Fire Marshal Ted Wieclawek. "We are delighted to be a partner in this life-saving initiative."
"At Enbridge, safety is an ongoing priority and as part of our Safe Community program, we are proud to help bring Project Zero to the Town of Collingwood," said Nick Thalassinos, General Manager, Enbridge Gas Distribution. "Reminding customers about the importance of properly maintaining fuel-burning equipment and installing a carbon monoxide alarm is part of our efforts to promote natural gas safety."
The alarms will be distributed to homes in neighbourhoods where the number of residential fires and fire-related deaths and injuries have been higher than average. During 2010, 84 people died as a result of fires in Ontario and 75 of those deaths resulted from residential fires.
In Ontario, it is the law that every home must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. While carbon monoxide alarms are not currently legislated in Ontario, they are highly recommended by the Ontario Fire Marshal. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, when properly installed and maintained, help provide the early warning that is needed 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. It is important that all fuel-burning equipment be properly maintained to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Carbon monoxide alarms are recommended as a second line of defense to protect against the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Our Community Partners
VON
"The VON Adult Day Program is pleased to be working with Enbridge and the Collingwood Fire Department to distribute smoke alarms to all seniors who are without one or have a smoke alarm that is 10 years old. It is essential for every home in Ontario to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms," said Fiona Behan program coordinator VON. VON Adult Day Program in Collingwood is delighted to be partnered with other local agencies and the Fire Department in Collingwood to assist in this life saving initiative. VON is assisting the Collingwood Fire Department identify at risk seniors who may not have a smoke alarm or have one that is over 10 years old.
The VON Adult Day Program in Collingwood provides social recreation programs to seniors who are isolated in the community or have a chronic disease. VON also offers periods of respite to caregivers.
VON Canada is a national health organization and registered charity offering a wide range of community health care solutions that meet the needs of Canadians from coast to coast. We are dedicated to being a leader in the delivery of social and health services. VON is committed to quality improvement and is accredited by Accreditation Canada.
Community Mental Health Services
Peace of Mind
"Each one of us has a desire and a right to live safely without worry. Thanks to the initiative and foresight of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge a major step is being taken to reach out and give peace of mind a chance to grow through Project Zero," said Dale Graham MSW RSW /Admin. Co-Lead
Today, Collingwood continues to be a vibrant attractive place to live, to raise families and work. Each year over 2.5 million visitors experience a taste of this active lifestyle community.
To keep us safe, fire and safety specialists have begun to educate about the silent, invisible danger of carbon monoxide. An important key to dealing with this problem is awareness and detection.
Carbon monoxide detectors distributed through this program will give people one of the greatest gifts of all - peace of mind.
We congratulate the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, Enbridge Gas and thank the Collingwood Fire Department for the opportunity to participate in this undertaking to make our community a safer place to live.
About the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council
The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (Council) is a registered charity established in 1993 with a mission to help create "a world where no one is hurt by fire." The Council, chaired by the Ontario Fire Marshal and supported by the Office of the Fire Marshal, operates at arm's length from the government and promotes fire prevention and public education through sponsorships and partnerships with various groups and individuals with an interest in public safety.
About Enbridge
Enbridge delivers more than the energy people count on; we deliver on our promise to help make communities better places to live.
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. It is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution and one of the 2010 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Enbridge Inc. has been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011 and is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Enbridge Gas Distribution and its affiliates distribute natural gas to about 1.9 million customers in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and New Brunswick. For more information visit www.enbridgegas.com.
For more information please contact:
Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety CouncilDebbie Forrest
(613) 498-6247 x100
debbie.forrest@firesafetycouncil.com
or
Fire Prevention Officer
Robert Bolt
Collingwood Fire Department
(705) 445-3920
rbolt@collingwood.ca
or
Enbridge Gas Distribution
Chris Meyer
(416) 753-6626
chris.meyer@enbridge.com
www.enbridgegas.com
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Fiona Behan
Program Coordinator
VON Adult Day Program
705 444-2457
fiona.behan@von.ca
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Ulla Rose
Site Manager - VON
Simcoe County
707 737-5044 (226)
ulla.rose@von.ca
or
VON and Community Mental Health Services
Mr. Dale Graham
MSW RSW /Admin. Co-Lead
Community Mental Health Clinic
459 Hume St., Collingwood
(705) 444-6600
