Petrolia/North Enniskillen Deputy Fire Chief Tim Williams believes only a quarter of people know they should have carbon monoxide detectors in their home.

The province recently passed a law making CO detectors mandatory in homes but Williams estimates only 25 per cent of homeowners are aware of it.

So the fire department is offering to help the most vulnerable people comply.

The IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter donated about 90 CO detectors and Lambton Mutal Insurance has given dozens of smoke detectors to be given out to people who can’t afford them or who can’t install the units themselves.

“The elderly are the main group at risk from the lack of CO and smoke detectors…they were not required years ago and they can be troublesome if they’re not installed right,” says Williams.

Williams says anyone who knows a person who might be in need, such as an elderly neighbour, can call the department at 519-882-2020 and leave a message. Firefighters will come out and install the units.

The fire department has approached the Petrolia Foodbank to spread the word about the free detectors.

“We haven’t had a lot of serious house fires in Petrolia,” says Williams “and we want to keep it that way.”