Hundreds of Fort Erie households are set to receive free combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through a new safety partnership between the Fort Erie Fire Department and Enbridge Gas.
The alarms, announced in a Wednesday news release, aim to reduce fire and carbon monoxide deaths by reaching homes that may not have working alarms. Fort Erie residents will soon be able to access them through the department’s Smoke Alarms Fort Erie (SAFE) home visit program.
According to the release, the department received the donation as part of the province’s Safe Community Project Zero which has supplied more than 115,000 alarms in Ontario since the program began 17 years ago. Enbridge Gas invested $450,000 this year alone to provide 14,200 alarms across 75 Ontario communities.
In 2024, 111 fire-related deaths occurred in Ontario according to the Office of the Fire Marshal, and on average, 60 per cent of homes in Ontario are not compliant with smoke alarm regulations.
“Fort Erie is not different,” said Fire Chief Mark Schmitt in the release. “This generous donation is about ensuring that every resident has the basic right to be safe in their home.”
The fire department will use its volunteer public safety team to install alarms and offer education during home visits through SAFE once eligibility details are finalized.
Julie Alexander, senior advisor for municipal and stakeholder engagement at Enbridge Gas, said in the release the project is about preventing avoidable tragedies.
“Proper maintenance of fuel-burning appliances is the most effective way to prevent carbon monoxide exposure,” said Alexander. “We’re proud to support our communities by helping Ontarians take simple, proactive steps to stay safe in their homes.”
Ontario Fire Marshal and council chair Jon Pegg said providing alarms where they are most needed is key.
“It helps raise awareness about the legal requirement to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all Ontario homes and reinforces the critical role they play in saving lives,” said Pegg.
Residents can expect updates to appear on the town’s website and social media channels about how to apply for a free alarm once the rollout plan is complete.