Over 180 carbon monoxide alarms have been donated by Enbridge Gas Inc. to the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department for home safety and prevention in Huntsville.
Officials say the alarms were donated through the Safe Community Project Zero, a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.
Steve Markham, fire prevention officer with the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department. says the fire alarms have ten-year lithium-ion batteries in them. Adding people would only need to test them to make sure they’re functioning over time.
“We were one of the municipalities that was selected to get these alarms. So luckily, we got 186 alarms that we can put into people’s homes that are here in Huntsville,” says Markham.
He adds the alarms are worth $12,000.
Ed Gouweloos, operations supervisor with Enbridge Gas, says these alarms are a “critical second line of defence” against carbon monoxide poisoning.
“We’re proud to support our communities, raise awareness and help Ontarians implement these protection strategies,” says Gouweloos.
Markham says the alarms come at a great time as they were “right at that cusp” of running out of the ones they currently have.
Officials say 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.
Markham says he will go to different community events to help distribute the alarms to the people who need them.
