RICHMOND HILL– Enbridge Gas and Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services (RHFES) are teaming up to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

RHFES received 522 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Project Zero – a public education campaign that will provide 7,500 alarms to residents in 35 municipalities across Ontario. 

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $225,000 in Project Zero, and over the past 12 years, the program has provided more than 50,000 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.

“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 defence to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Steve McGivery, Director, GTA East Operations, Enbridge Gas.

“The objective of Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Ontario communities who need them the most,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal. “It’s a program that 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.” 

“We want all residents of Richmond Hill to be protected if a fire breaks out or they have a carbon monoxide issue in their home,” says Fire Chief Steve Kraft. “Through Project Zero, members of the fire department will be able to provide residents with combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and the added protection that comes with having these devices in their homes. Fire and carbon monoxide are both dangerous opponents, but having early detection can save lives.”

About Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services
Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services is a full-time, career department that proudly provides fire, medical and rescue services to the more than 200,000 citizens of the City of Richmond Hill. We are committed to protecting the lives and property of our community through excellence in prevention, education, training and emergency response. 

About Enbridge Gas
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 3.8 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. 

Media contacts:

Kathy Ash, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council
1-866-379-6668 ext. 105
kathy.ash@firesafetycouncil.com  

Shanyn Godward, Richmond Hill Fire & Emergency Services
905-780-2907
shanyn.godward@richmondhill.ca 

Enbridge Gas Media
1-855-884-5112
enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com