Neighbours of a southwest Kitchener home say door-to-door salespeople are now canvassing the area pitching water heaters and furnaces, and officials say it’s a scam.
The house, located at the corner of Activa Avenue and Isaiah Drive, exploded last month, sending its four inhabitants to hospital.
Since then, neighbours say they’ve seen an increase in door-to-door salespeople telling them the explosion was caused by faulty gas pipes and residents need a new water heater or furnace to prevent a similar explosion from happening in their home.
Fire officials say that’s simply not true.
“We’ve found nothing that would indicate people should be worried about their gas transmission system or the appliances in their homes,” says Phil Mellor of the Kitchener Fire Department.
Neighbours say they’re not happy to hear about the unscrupulous behaviour.
“I think it’s really unfortunate that people are playing off of the neighbours’ anxiety,” said Activa resident Donna Forte.
“It’s bad behaviour. It’s despicable.”
A community meeting is scheduled for Feb. 26 to update residents on the situation. The location of that meeting has yet to be decided.
The Ontario Fire Marshal has yet to release its report on the cause of the explosion. Fire officials say forensic examination continues on material taken from the site.
The cause of the explosion is not believed to be criminal in nature.
