Fire departments in Centre Hastings and dozens of other muncipalities across Ontario are getting some help in keeping people safe from Carbon Monoxide.
Enbridge Gas is teaming up with 75 fire departments and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) to deliver thousands of free combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to homes across the province. Now in its 17th year, Safe Community Project Zero continues to be one of Ontario’s most impactful fire safety initiatives—saving lives by closing critical gaps in alarm access and awareness.
This year alone, Enbridge Gas has donated 14,220 alarms, valued at approximately $1.1 million, to 75 fire departments in Ontario. Since the program’s inception, more than 115,000 alarms have been distributed province-wide, helping to prevent the silent threat of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes that may otherwise go unprotected.
“Safe Community Project Zero is about more than alarms, it’s about protecting the people who make Ontario home,” said Brian Johnson, General Manager & Senior Vice President at Enbridge Gas Ontario. “Although carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless, and can be fatal, exposure to it is preventable. A combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm is the simplest, most effective way to keep your family safe, and we’re proud to help make that protection accessible.”
The initiative works hand-in-hand with Safe Community Project Assist, a complementary program that is equipping 25 volunteer and composite fire departments with educational materials and training resources for firefighters to deliver life-saving fire safety education in their communities. Together, these programs reflect Enbridge Gas’s deep commitment to safety, community partnership, and supporting Ontarians beyond energy delivery.
“Each day, fire departments focus their efforts on educating the public about the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their home. The objective of Safe Community Project Zero, is to deliver these alarms to areas where they are needed most,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the FMPFSC. “It is a program that not only helps fire departments raise awareness about the legal requirement to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed in all Ontario homes but also reinforces the critical role they play in saving lives.”
Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“Thank you to Ontario’s firefighters, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge Gas for providing combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to keep families safe,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our government is committed to building safer, stronger communities, and we are grateful to have community partners helping us protect Ontario.”
Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
“Protecting Ontario starts at home, and no family should be left vulnerable to preventable dangers like carbon monoxide. Initiatives like Safe Community Project Zero and Safe Community Project Assist reinforce the life-saving work of our fire services and ensure communities have the tools they need to stay safe. I commend Enbridge Gas’s partnership with local fire departments as we work together to support prevention, strengthen public safety, and protect families across the province.”
Hon. Jill Dunlop Minister | Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response
“Being prepared during an emergency makes all the difference when it comes to building a safe Ontario,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are critical tools in an emergency safety kit that can help save lives and keep our communities protected, and this initiative enables both.”
(PAUL MARTIN)
