'It's nice to have an alarm so we feel safe': Multi-gas alarm distribution begins in Wheatley
Nearly two and a half years after the downtown Wheatley gas explosion, Wheatley residents are now able to claim a free multi-gas alarm as Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue officials deliver and distribute 1,000 devices across the small community.
The multi-functional carbon monoxide, propane, and natural gas alarms are capable of providing continuous monitoring for their lifespan of seven years and can be picked up at the Wheatley Village Resource Centre if fire officials were unable to deliver them personally.
Assistant Fire Chief Neil Woods said the goal is promote community safety.
“I believe it's a step towards healing. It's going to take a long time to heal from this incident, that's for sure.”
Woods explained the alarms are intended to give residents some reassurance, and noted the municipality reminds residents that if they detect or suspect gas in their home to call 9-1-1 immediately.
“The community still is hurting and it's just starting to get going more and more now,” Woods said.
“I think it's nice that we're going to, hopefully, get back to normal soon,” added Wheatley resident Kellie Adamson. “It's nice to have an alarm so we feel safe.”
The alarms are being paid for using a provincial grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, who provided $280,000 in funding to implement local priority projects to enhance emergency preparedness within its communities and prevent petroleum-related emergencies.
Adamson said, “It'd be nice if we could get the downtown looking back to normal and just carry on.”
“We're still trying to recover. I don't think that we've gotten through the whole process of that yet,” said Susan Fulmer, founder and CEO of the Wheatley Village Resource Centre.
Fulmer said the reassurance campaign is another step towards closure for residents, following the August 2021 explosion that rocked the downtown core, “It has its ups and downs. It has its moments. Sometimes you feel positive. Sometimes you feel like there's setbacks. Sometimes you wonder what's happening.”
“I think it helps the process. I don't know that we're at closure yet. But the Village Resource Centre was created to help our neighbours thrive, and so whatever that looks like, in the purpose of handing out these alarms, if that's part of the process for them, then that's what we're happy to do,” said Fulmer.
Door-to-door alarm distribution will continue inside the evacuation zone throughout the next several days while those outside the evacuation zone can get theirs at the Village Resource Centre at 108 Talbot Rd. E., Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We are giving them out to the businesses also,” Woods added. “You’ll see us this week and maybe next week still going door-to-door to households handing these detectors out.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.