St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders' Association to Receive Fire Safety Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders' Association will receive a Fire Safety Award from the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council at a ceremony on June 19, 2014 in Toronto. The annual Fire Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

In March, the St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders' Association teamed up with the St. Thomas Fire Department to conduct a door-to-door fire safety blitz.  The Home Builders' Association supplied and installed smoke alarms, while the fire department provided carbon monoxide alarms and batteries in homes that required them. A package of fire safety information was also left at each home. These services were provided at no cost to the homeowners. This successful campaign was championed by Stefanie Coleman-Dias of Coleman-Dias 3 Construction, a member of the Association.

After the results were tallied, it was determined that 46 per cent of the homes visited did not comply with Ontario Fire Code regulations. The fire department subsequently decided to make this door-to-door blitz a semi-annual event, in the spring and fall of each year.

"The St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders' Association demonstrated their commitment to a fire safety community by raising awareness about the importance of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and ensuring that homes were properly equipped with these life-saving devices," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.

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]