Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing to receive Fire Safety Award

TORONTO, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Low Income People Involvement (LIPI) of Nipissing will receive a Fire Safety Award from the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council at a ceremony on June 12, 2013 in Toronto. The annual Fire Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

LIPI is a community organization that provides information and support to individuals and families in need of safe and affordable housing. North Bay Fire & Emergency Services first approached LIPI several years ago when they became involved with difficult hoarding situations. Hoarding has become a serious issue in most communities and of great concern to fire services, due to the degree of combustible materials, questionable building integrity and lack of a safe means of escape.

With little assistance available in the community at the time, the fire department contacted LIPI for help. With their small staff and even smaller budget, LIPI did not hesitate to spring into action. Their staff volunteered on weekends and evenings to assist the fire department, which often included suiting up in protective gear and cleaning out houses. They were extremely skilled in diffusing difficult and stressful situations and identifying the resources needed to deal with the incidents safely and efficiently.  Subsequently LIPI became one of the lead agencies in the creation of the Nipissing District Hoarding Coalition and No Wrong Door Policy, which brings together community agencies to address the needs of people living with hoarding issues.

"LIPI staff understand the importance of fire safety. In instances where families have experienced a house fire, LIPI has assisted the families with resources to get back on their feet," said Ted Wieclawek, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.  "Their contribution to Nipissing's coordinated efforts in dealing with difficult hoarding situations has been invaluable."

The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: Technical Standards and Safety Authority, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Home Depot of Canada Inc., Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Roxul Inc. and Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138