Fire officials in Chatham-Kent say they have handed out over 400 free multi-gas alarms to residents in Wheatley.
So Tuesday, firefighters and volunteers visited over 500 houses and distributed 440 alarms.
The alarms were chosen specifically for Wheatley for their capability to detect methane gas, according to officials.
H2S gas occurs along with natural gas, namely methane, which is the highest risk associated with leaking wells. H2S is readily detectable by its odour at very low concentrations, while methane is odourless and colourless and an explosive mixture can build up in enclosed spaces, leading to explosion.
“So far, we’ve been met with an excellent response from the community,” said Assistant Fire Chief Neil Woods. “These alarms were specifically chosen for the efficacy in detecting the active gases in the community and offer the people of Wheatley an extra measure of safety and peace of mind that they deserve.”
Residents outside the evacuation zone can pick up a multi-gas alarm at the Wheatley Resource Centre located at 108 Talbot Road East.
Door-to-door distribution will resume early next week to continue meeting the demand.
