Enbridge Gas helps HH Fire Department Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths through Project Zero

Halton Hills, ON – A partnership between Enbridge Gas and the Halton Hills Fire Department aims to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero. The Halton Hills Fire Department was one of 35 municipalities across the Province that benefitted from a donation by the gas company, receiving 300 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The initiative, titled ‘Project Zero’, is a public education campaign that provided 7,500 alarms to residents across Ontario. “I would like to thank Enbridge Gas for their generous donation,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “Initiatives such as Project Zero are integral to supporting municipal efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of residents. This generous gift will be distributed to local households and help improve the level of home safety within our community.” 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 defense to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Murray Costello, Director, Southeast Region 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,” said 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.” Halton Hills Commissioner & Fire Chief Harry Olivieri, noted that “Having a working smoke and carbon monoxide alarm can mean the difference between life and death. These alarms provide the early warning you need to exit your home in a timely manner.”