West Grey Youth to Receive Fire Safety Action Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Tanner Ball 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.

One afternoon in March, 10-year-old Tanner Ball was at home in West Grey with his siblings, nine-year-old Phoenix and seven-year-old Linden. After completing his chores, Tanner joined his brothers in the living room to play video games and watch TV. A short time later, the boys were startled to hear the smoke alarm sounding in the basement. Tanner opened the door to the basement and discovered thick, black smoke billowing up the stairs. He immediately closed the basement door and sprang into action.

Tanner made sure his brothers had their coats on and instructed them to follow him out of the home to the neighbour's house. The family lives in a farmhouse and the nearest neighbour is 1.3 kilometres away. Tanner broke into a run, yelling to his brothers to follow him and to not go back in the house for any reason. When he arrived at the neighbour's, with the younger boys close behind him, Tanner was able to call the fire department.

"Luckily, Tanner remembered the fire safety lessons he had learned at school and at home. He knew they had to get out and stay out when the smoke alarm sounded, and to call the fire department from outside the home," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.  "Phoenix and Linden followed their brother's instructions without question, ensuring this very scary incident had a happy ending."

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]