Creating awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide
Last year there were a record number of fire deaths in Ontario and many were due to a lack of working smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
The Markstay-Warren Fire Department and Enbridge Gas are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide deaths down the zero.
Fire Chief Mark Whynott said raising public awareness about the fact that working smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are law and save lives is critical.
Whynott points to the 133 fire deaths in Ontario last year.
"The biggest part of that number the 133 were because of non-existing or non-working smoke and co alarms in someone's home,” he said.
“And they would have had a chance to get out and still be here today had those units had a smoke alarm in them."
Enbridge recently gave the Markstay-Warren 120 combination smoke/CO alarms to be distributed in the community as part of its Safe Community Project Zero campaign.
"Lots of people have them in their house but they might be 20 years old and no longer in great working condition," said Jessica Gibson from Enbridge.
The Markstay Warren Fire Department is a large volunteer force that covers a geographic area of almost 500 square kilometres. Mayor Ned Whynott said a lot of people don’t know the importance of CO alarms.
"That is the silent killer,” Whynott said.
“So it's important for the fire department to get out and there are educate our residents on the importance of carbon monoxide units."
In 2022, Enbridge distributed combination smoke/CO detectors to 11 communities in its northeast region, from Sault Ste. Marie to Parry Sound to north to Cobalt.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.