Oshawa Youth to Receive Fire Safety Action Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Cameron Edwards will receive a Fire Safety Action Award on June 19 in Toronto.  The annual Fire Safety Awards ceremony, hosted by the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, recognizes outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

In March, then eight-year-old Cameron Edwards, had just settled into his bed in his Oshawa home for the night. When his mother came in to say goodnight, Cameron told her that he smelled smoke. Together, they went down to the main floor and saw a slight smoky haze in the air, but no fire. Cameron's mother went down into the basement, to investigate. No fire there either. Determined to find the source of the smoke, Cameron put on his coat and told his mother he was just going to take a quick look outside.

Immediately he noticed flames in the window of the other half of their semi-detached house. Cameron yelled for his mother to call 9-1-1. On arrival, the fire department found a neighbour without vital signs in the home that was on fire. Firefighters revived her at the scene and transported her to the hospital.

"Despite his young age, Cameron knew that smoke was an indication that something was very wrong," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.  "Upon discovering the fire, he wasted no time in telling his mother to call 9-1-1. Thanks to Cameron's determination and his knowledge of fire safety, his neighbour has recovered from her injuries."

Fire Safety Action Awards are awarded to young children and teenagers who have actively demonstrated fire safety behaviours they have learned.  The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: TD Bank Group, Toronto Blue Jays, Union Gas Limited/ A Spectra Energy Company, Technical Standards & Safety Authority - TSSA, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Roxul Inc. and The Home Depot.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management [phone] [email protected]