Enbridge Gas Inc. has made a $250,000 donation to the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) in support of its Safe Community Project Assist program.
The program supplements existing training for Ontario volunteer and composite fire departments in communities where Enbridge Gas operates. This year, 50 Ontario fire departments, including Kingston Fire & Rescue, will share in the donation.
“At Enbridge Gas, safety is our priority. We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe, healthy and vibrant,” said Steven Rogers, Eastern Region Operations Manager at Enbridge Gas. The funds will be used to purchase educational materials to assist in training firefighters in life-saving techniques.
Since its launch in 2012, the Safe Community Project Assist program has provided 294 grants to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training. The program has been instrumental in improving access to training materials for fire departments.
“Firefighting can be dangerous and unpredictable, and these training materials positively contribute to the health and safety of firefighters and the broader community,” said Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the FMPFSC.
Richard Edworthy, Chief Training Officer at Kingston Fire & Rescue, emphasized the importance of education and training for firefighters. “Education and training are the foundation for firefighters to make crucial decisions. We are constantly adapting to challenging environments. Part of this challenge is to ensure our firefighters have the most up-to-date information at their disposal. This donation will assist with ensuring information and training materials are both current and relevant in the pursuit of excellence and certification,” said Edworthy.
Based in Ontario, Enbridge Gas is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission, and distribution company. It serves around 3.8 million customers and is responsible for heating over 75% of Ontario homes.
Photo (submitted): From left to right: Deputy Chief Kevin Donaldson, Firefighter Matt Botting, Acting Captain Matt Timmins, Enbridge Gas Steve Rogers, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council Emily Folio, Chief Training Officer Richard Edworthy, Firefighter Wesley Orobetz and Firefighter Aiden Plouffe, and Deputy Chief Melanie Jones.