Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Say City and Peterborough Fire Services

With Daylight Savings Time and the clocks springing forward one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Peterborough Fire Services and the City of Peterborough are reminding residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks. 

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

“In order for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to save lives, they need to be working,” explained Fire Chief Chris Snetsinger. “When you change your clocks on Sunday, Peterborough Fire Services wants everyone to take the time to check all the alarms in their home. Check the expiry date and test every alarm. Be sure to change the batteries if you do not have a wired or 10-year battery sealed alarm.”

Residents are reminded that nine-volt batteries can be fire hazards when not stored safely. It is unsafe to store them in a drawer near paper clips, coins, pens or other batteries. Cover the positive and negative posts with masking, duct or electrical tape before disposing of the battery to be safe.

The City of Peterborough works with not-for-profit organization Call2Recycle that provides battery recycling programs nationwide to divert batteries from going to the City’s landfill according to a press release. Batteries can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. and at locations throughout the city for safe disposal:

• City Hall, 500 George St. N.

• Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St.

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.

Other battery drop-off locations in Peterborough:

• GreenUP Store, 378 Aylmer St.

• Kingan Home Hardware, 167 Simcoe St.

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Combustibles Close to Heater Cause Evening Garage Fire On Ravenwood Drive

A light smoke and a fire broke out in a Ravenwood Drive garage on Thursday evening.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

There were 17 Peterborough Fire Services firefighters who arrived on the scene.

The first responders noticed the smoke from an attached garage and quickly extinguished a couch that was on fire without incident.

There were no injuries reported and the cause of the fire was due to be a heater too close to combustibles.

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Peterborough Fire Services Conduct Ice Rescue Training; Warns Public that 'No Ice Is Completely Safe'

Peterborough Fighter Service firefighters endured the frigid waters during ice rescue training at the stormwater pond on Sherbrooke Street on Friday morning.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Fire Services.

The pond was somewhat frozen due to the warmer weather Peterborough has had in the past week.

According to the Peterborough Fire Service's X account, the message is that there is no completely safe ice and to stay off it.

“You cannot tell the strength of ice by its appearance. Temperature, thickness, snow cover, water depth and size are all factors affecting ice safety.”

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Police and Fire Services Seeking Public For Information of Margaret Avenue Fire

The Peterborough Police and Peterborough Fire Services are asking anyone with information to come forward about a fire on Margaret Avenue on Saturday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 12:20 a.m., the fire was spotted and called in. The home had just been sold and was empty at the time.

Seventeen firefighters responded to the call and heavy smoke billowed from the house upon arrival. After a search, fire crews did not find anyone in the fire and police believe no one was injured. The fire was extinguished without incident.

The Ontario Fire Marshal has since determined the circumstances to be suspicious and the Peterborough Police Service is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Constable Mark Jilesen with Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x285 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough Fire Services Warns Public of Expired Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Following recent incidents involving expired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the city, Peterborough Fire Services urges all residents to ensure their alarms are functioning correctly and are not expired says the City of Peterborough.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms require regular checks and maintenance. Residents are reminded to look at the back of the alarm to find its manufacturing date. If the alarm is 10 years old or older, it must be replaced with the same type of alarm.

Key information regarding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms:

• Smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years.

• Homeowners play a crucial role in maintaining their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms which are vital for home safety.

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every floor of your home, including the basement. If possible, interconnect all alarms so that if one goes off, they all do.

• When replacing your alarm, opt for the same type of alarm, preferably interconnected and hardwired.

• Ensure any new alarms installed have the CSA and UL seal of approval.

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Enbridge Gas and Peterborough Fire Services Partner to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths In New Project

Enbridge Gas Inc. and Peterborough Fire Services have partnered to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero with the Safe Community Project Zero, announced at the Peterborough Fire Services Station # 3 on Monday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Fire Services.

“Last year there were 133 fire fatalities in the province – the most in 20 years,” says Fire Chief Chris Snetsinger. “As part of Project Zero, we are encouraging everyone to learn more about smoke alarms, fire safety, and home fire escape planning which can save the lives of you and your loved ones. Only working smoke alarms will alert us in the event of a fire. We need to have them, and they need to work. These alarms will help us get them into the homes that need them most.”

Peterborough Fire Services received 324 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide more than 10,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario according to a press release.

It was reported by The City of Peterborough that Enbridge Gas invested $315,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 15 years, the program has provided more than 86,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.

When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels as stated in a press release.

“Properly maintaining fuel burning equipment is the best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide, and an alarm is a critical second line of defense for protection,” said Ian Moase, manager operations of Enbridge Gas.” When we implement these strategies together, we protect our loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning, also known as the silent killer.”

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Peterborough Police and Fire Services Performing Water Training Scenarios At Little Lake For the Week

Peterborough Police Service and Fire Services are performing water training water scenarios throughout the rest of the week at the T-wharf at Little Lake from Tuesday to Friday.

The majority of the activities are done during the morning throughout the week.

Peterborough Police thanks to the public for their patience as the training is underway.

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Peterborough Police Investigating Pickup Truck Fire Near Dublin Street

The Peterborough Police Service is investigating a vehicle fire that occurred early Wednesday morning.  

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Around 1 a.m., officers arrived at a parking lot in the Dublin Street and Aylmer Street area with a pickup truck on fire. Peterborough Fire Services extinguished it and no injuries were reported.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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North-End Fire Station Gets Groundbreaking Ceremony From City of Peterborough

The construction of a new Fire Station No. 2 has officially been marked by a groundbreaking ceremony on 100 Marina Blvd. at the former Northcrest Arena location held on Thursday.

Lett Architects Inc. designed the fire station to be completed for the fall of 2024. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The new fire station is replacing the Carnegie Avenue location which was built in 1967. It will aid in making fire response times quicker since you have three minutes to escape a building without injury according to Peterborough Fire Services Chief Chris Snetsinger.

He continues to state that the replacement of Fire Station 2 is necessary as the needs of fire services have evolved since the current station was built in 1967.

“The station has served our community well over the years, but because of its design it has become increasingly challenging to provide the services that are necessary from the existing station,” said Snetsinger. “The new station is designed and strategically located to support our community’s existing neighbourhoods and projected growth.”

The new facility is being built following the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standard for both design and performance according to Councillor Leslie Parnell.

The building is designed to achieve net zero energy performance using onsite renewable energy to reduce operating and maintenance costs.

“The new fire station will help position and support our Fire Services workers as they respond to emergency calls in our community,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “By building it using Zero Carbon standards, we’re reducing our environmental footprint in our delivery of this essential service.”

Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

JCB Construction Canada was awarded the construction contract by the City for $10 million.

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Acting Captain Christopher Roberts Retires After a 19-Year Tenure With Peterborough Fire Services

Peterborough Fire Services acting captain Christopher Roberts is retiring as Tuesday is his last day with the service announced on Facebook on Monday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough FIre Services.

“We would like to extend all the best to Christopher as he moves on to the next chapter in his life. You will be missed,” said Peterborough Fire Services in a Facebook post.

Roberts spent 19 years and eight months with Peterborough Fire Services, joining on May 26, 2003.

“I had a great career with fantastic people,” commented Roberts on Facebook.

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