Chatham Kent’s innovative CHIRP (Chatham-Kent, Homes, Informed, Ready & Protected) program is gaining province wide attention.
During the November 1 session of the Ontario Provincial Legislature Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman referred to the “great work” being done through the program in which Chatham-Kent firefighters provide free home alarm checks to residents.
The objectives of the CHIRP program is to talk to the community about the importance of smoke & CO alarms in their homes; regular maintenance of these alarms; as well as; home escape planning and being prepared for emergencies.
Firefighters from all 19 stations have visited homes and delivered door hangers across Chatham-Kent and as a result, the municipality has been getting daily calls and website referrals for Home Alarm Checks. Five times the number of homes have been reached as during past years.
Chatham Kent Fire Paramedic Chief Ken Stuebing said the program; developed by public educator Whitney Burk; has received positive feedback from both full time and volunteer firefighters and has been extremely popular with the public.
“CHIRP is just example of our emphasis on community safety,” Stuebing said. “We’re committed to public engagement and community fire safety. We urge everyone in Chatham-Kent to request a Home Alarm Check. CHIRP is really about talking to our communities about safety – we like to refer to our program as having a CHIRP CHAT with CK.”
For more information or to book a Home Alarm Check visit: www.ckfire.com or call 519-360-1998
