October 4, 2016
1330
So what does a hot smokin' pizza have in common with fire prevention? Perhaps nothing.
But that hasn't stopped the Kincardine Fire Department from teaming up with Boston Pizza to deliver the message of fire safety in the home.
Next week, Oct. 9-15, is Fire Prevention Week, and Kincardine's fire prevention officer, Shane Watson, wants people to understand the importance of ensuring their homes have proper smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms, that they are installed properly, and that they are functioning.
To that end, Watson (above, right, with Laura Robertson of Boston Pizza) came up with the idea of "delivering" the message along with a pizza order.
So, one day next week, from 5- 8 p.m., firefighters are going to be following the Boston Pizza delivery person and asking residents if they can inspect their homes.
"If they let us in and we find their home is compliant, then they get their meal for half-price," said Watson. "If they are not compliant, the fire department will ensure they are before we leave, at our expense. I believe this will really help the community understand the importance of regular maintenance of smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms in the home."
Watson said he heard of this program operating in larger centres through Domino's Pizza, so he spoke to Laura Robertson, general manager of Boston Pizza in Kincardine, and she was supportive of the idea.
"We hope to create a buzz in the community and have people checking their smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms," said Watson. "A lot of times, what we find is that the alarms have no batteries, the batteries in them don't work, or the alarms are not where they should be in the house.
"It's important to have smoke alarms in your home for smoke detection so anyone in the house can get out of the building as fast as possible. Houses are going up in flames faster because of new plastics and materials, and new fuels in the home."
Watson said the day of the deliveries/home inspections, he expects things will go well because people in the Kincardine area are friendly, and they will enjoy getting their meals for half-price by allowing an inspection of their home.
He said The Co-Operators is donating all the smoke alarms for this campaign, while Miller Insurance is donating the carbon-monoxide alarms.
Also on the market, he said, is a new two-in-one alarm - a smoke detector combined with a carbon-monoxide alarm, that people can purchase.
As fire prevention officer, Watson encourages groups and organizations to contact him and he can make a presentation about fire safety in the home and fire prevention.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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