Enbridge providing Wilmot Fire Department with training support

Wilmot Township Mayor Natasha Salonen joined Desirée Swance, advisor of municipal and stakeholder affairs with Enbridge Gas, Wilmot Fire Chief Rod Leeson and Wilmot Fire Department chief training officer Justin Zielman to celebrate a donation from Enbridge Gas Ontario. The funds will be used to purchase firefighting training materials through Safe Community Project Assist. Photo courtesy of Wilmot Township

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Enbridge Gas Ontario is helping the Wilmot Fire Department purchase firefighting training materials through Safe Community Project Assist.

The program, with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC), supplements existing training for Ontario volunteer and composite fire departments.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Enbridge Gas – it’s one of our core values we live by,” said Enbridge advisor of municipal stakeholder and engagement Desirée Swance in a press release. “We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters with emergency response training that helps them strengthen their skills, stay prepared and continue protecting the vibrant communities they serve.”

This year’s $125,000 investment from Enbridge Gas will be shared by 25 Ontario fire departments, including the Wilmot Fire Department. Funds are used to purchase educational materials to assist in training firefighters in life-saving techniques.

Wilmot Fire Chief Rod Leeson said the $5,000 gift will be used to purchase training manuals.

“For example, one of the manuals cost $120 each. We need to replace 10 of one manual which is used to train our recruit firefighters to achieve mandatory provincial certification. On top of that, we require updated training materials for company officers, technical rescue and various other topics.”

He explained training is crucial to a fire department, ensuring firefighters have the skills, confidence and safety knowledge to respond effectively and protect lives and property. It also allows the department to spend money elsewhere.

“The donation diverts valuable tax dollars to other areas of the fire department budget making it much easier to purchase these valuable resources and maintain an appropriate budget to fund fire department operations.

Leeson said training in the fire service is continually evolving with new science, new techniques, new standards and new equipment.

“All of which continue to challenge our training program and firefighters to maintain and keep up to date,” he said.

Since the launch of Safe Community Project Assist in 2012, 394 grants have been provided to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training.

“Fire departments across Ontario train every single day and that is why it is important for them to have access to the right materials to keep their members and the public safe. Safe Community Project Assist helps departments afford these essential training tools and supports the ongoing learning that keeps the fire service safe,” said Ontario Fire Marshal and chair of the FMPFSC Jon Pegg in the press release.

Leeson also wants to make sure the public is aware of a new and important change to the Ontario Fire Code on Jan. 1, 2026.

“Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms will be mandatory on every level of a home and near all sleeping areas in residences with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages, extending protection to homes with outdoor furnaces and adding requirements for multi-unit buildings, with homeowners and landlords responsible for compliance before the deadline to prevent CO poisoning.”

The Wilmot Fire Department has three fire stations with 80 volunteer firefighters serving a population of approximately 22,000 residents.

The FMPFSC was established in 1993 with a mission to help create a world where no one is hurt by fire.