Omemee Siblings to Receive Fire Safety Action Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Christian Sparks and Chloe Sparks will receive Fire Safety Action Awards on June 19 in Toronto.  The annual Fire Safety Awards ceremony, hosted by the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, recognizes outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

Last December, the pair from Omemee had their fire safety knowledge put to the test when a devastating fire broke out in their home. It was about 4:00 a.m. on December 13 when their father awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of the smoke alarms. He immediately ran through the thick smoke to each of his children`s bedrooms, screaming at them to get up.

Although scared, 14-year-old Chloe Sparks and her 12 year-old brother Christian followed their home escape plan, keeping low under the smoke and safely exiting the home. They immediately went to their designated meeting place on the front lawn and yelled to their father to let him know they were safely outside.

Their father had become separated from the kids in the dense, black smoke, however when he heard them calling to him that they were safe, he was able to make his way outside, along with the family dog.  Sadly the home was completely destroyed in the fire and was later demolished.

"In a fire situation, every second counts," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.  "Fortunately Chloe and Christian knew exactly what to do because of the fire safety lessons they had received at school from the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service and the Ontario Provincial Police DARE program."

Fire Safety Action Awards are awarded to young children and teenagers who have actively demonstrated fire safety behaviours they have learned.  The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: TD Bank Group, Toronto Blue Jays, Union Gas Limited/ A Spectra Energy Company, Technical Standards & Safety Authority - TSSA, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Roxul Inc. and The Home Depot.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management [phone]
[email protected]