Enbridge Gas has donated 228 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to the Thorold Fire and Emergency Services, so they can hand them out as part of a fire prevention program aimed at seniors.
“Seniors, 65 and older, who reside in Thorold are going to be able to call our department and give us a shout,” says Fire Prevention Captain Vince Giovannini, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “We’re going to do a home assessment, make sure the home is safe and where they need them we’ll install them.”
Fire safety is still a big problem in the City of Thorold. House fires caused 133 deaths in Ontario in 2022, and those deaths could have been prevented, says Giovannini.
“It’s the same thing we keep saying and that’s the biggest problem,” he says. “People don’t learn, people don’t care and that’s why people die.”
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.
Representatives from City Hall, Enbridge Gas, and the Thorold Fire Department came together at Fire Station 1 on Thursday morning to celebrate the donation of the alarms.
“I just want to express our pleasure in supporting this program,” said Nick Clip, Manager of Operations of Niagara Hamilton Enbridge Gas. “It’s a great way to keep people safe. I just want to thank the fire department because they are our most important partner.”
The donation is part of Enbrige's Safe Community Project Zero program: a public education campaign that will provide more than 8,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario.
Jamie Kovacs, of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, urged the gathered crowd to take preventative action.
“I’m a volunteer firefighter myself and I get very upset at the ignorance that’s out there,” he said. “I always say that actions are better than words. Let’s all go out and check our alarms tonight, talk to your kids, check their alarms, pass it on to some friends, have them check — We need to look after each other.”
Mayor Terry Ugulini and Councillor Tim O’Hare were also present to thank the fire department for all the hard work that they do.
“I think everybody has learned that fire prevention is the way forward,” said Mayor Ugulini. “I think our residential licensing program has helped because it has allowed us to get into houses we never got into before.”
With the donation, the Thorold Fire and Emergency Services hopes to make a difference in the community.
“This will help, resources help,” says Giovannini. “Prevention needs to be first and foremost at all times. We’ve seen that throughout the province. It’s great to have the support. It’ll go a long way.”
