THUNDER BAY – The vast majority of schools in Thunder Bay are not equipped with carbon monoxide detection devices.
However officials with both the Lakehead Public School Board and the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board on Wednesday confirmed they will look at having them installed after 35 students and eight adults were sent to Montreal-area hospitals earlier this month with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Though we do have carbon monoxide detectors in some of our schools, we do not have a policy for the requirement for the detectors in our schools and facilities,” public school spokesman Bruce Nugent said in a statement issued by email.
“The City of Thunder Bay and (Thunder Bay Fire Rescue) confirm that there is no requirement for Carbon Monoxide detectors in schools. In light of the incident in Quebec, we are reviewing and looking at requiring the installation in all schools.”
The Catholic board issued a similar statement on Wednesday, but also confirmed there are no carbon monoxide detectors at any of their schools.
“Currently, we do not have carbon monoxide detectors in our schools or facilities. Our board does not have a policy requiring detectors,” communications officer Alexandra Korlenko offered via email.
“Both the City of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay Fire (Rescue) verify that there are no requirements for carbon monoxide detectors within schools. With the latest news from Montreal, we will look into the implementation of detectors and further protection with recommendations from Industry professionals.”
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Chief John Hay on Thursday said while the regulations governing schools don’t require carbon monoxide detectors in schools, it’s not a bad idea.
“Presently there is no legislation requiring carbon monoxide detectors, but in light of all the advances in technology and the ease with which it is available to the communities, I think it would be a great idea if schools even got onto it voluntarily and put them in appropriate places in their schools,” Hay said.
Ontario amended its fire code in 2014 requiring carbon monoxide detectors in homes with either an attached garage or fuel-fired appliances, rental units, social housing, student dormitories, hotels and motels and homeless shelters.
