Confusion over fire prevention programs offered by an-out-of-town company prompted several comments of concern to Kincardine's fire chief.
Kent Padfield says he was "caught off guard" by phone calls and emails from Kincardine businesspeople claiming a salesperson was asking them to sponsor a company called 'Community Fire Protection', which offers fire prevention material to local daycares.
Padfield sent a letter to the Kincardine Chamber of Commerce & the Kincardine Business Improvement Area to clarify that his department has no affiliation with the company.
Padfield says his department usually stays away from daycares because of children's "lack of ability to comprehend responsibilities when it comes to fire safety", noting the programs he offers start in schools, and are recognized through the National Fire Protection Association.
Community Fire Protection is a company based in Winnipeg that provides early child care learning resources that teaches daycare students about fire safety.
Company President Devin Friesen confirms he did have a contractor in the Kincardine area, but they stopped because "the fire department already has a good municipally-funded fire prevention program".
"We've stopped our efforts. We refunded everyone's money. If someone has sent a cheque, it has been destroyed or will be returned. It will not be cashed. This is not a scam, and we are not stealing people's money," says Friesen says. "We're out of there. We're gone."
According to Friesen, his company makes the material available to daycares for free before asking local businesses to sponsor that program.
"We want to make this a national thing," he says.