Clive Sparks, the city's fire chief and vice-president of the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs, says both organizations are "generally supportive” of the propose legislation around carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and oil-fired appliances.

While the exact legislation has yet to come forward, the Yukon government announcd late last week it will table legislation that will require CO detectors in homes with oil-fired appliances and garages and make it so only certified oil burner mechanics could install or make major repairs on the appliances.

Servicing and minor repairs would continue to be done by uncertified mechanics.

While Sparks noted his general support for the proposed changes, he also noted he would have to see the wording of the legislation before he could make a more detailed comment on the proposals and whether there's anything else that should be included in it.

The proposed changes come from recommendations out of a coroner's inquest into the January 2012 deaths of four family members and one of their friends living in their Porter Creek home.

The five died of CO poisoning after their blocked and crumbling chimney trapped the deadly gas in their rented house.

Since then, Sparks said, there's been an increase in the number of Whitehorse homes equipped with CO detectors.

The Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for Carbon Monoxide Education donated more than 100 CO detectors to be distributed throughout the territory through the Yukon Housing Corp. and the Whitehorse Food Bank, helping to ensure that those who may not otherwise be able to afford a detector can have one.

Last October, as part of a week focused on fire safety, the Whitehorse Fire Department also handed out another 75.

With the increase in CO detectors, there's also been a rise in the number of calls from alarms going off the department has responded to.

In 2011, Sparks said, the department responded to seven calls around CO detectors sounding. In 2012, there were 34. And just last month alone, there were eight, Sparks said.

In some cases, the alarm sounding was an indication of a low battery, while in other cases it was not a major situation.

As Sparks pointed out, CO detectors are designed to sound at low levels being detected.

"It's there to warn you,” he said, noting the importance of knowing the different alarms a detector can make when there is an issue. A low battery indicator, for example, has a different alarm than CO detection does.

The fire department has also been part of the education work done by the Yukon government.

He stressed the importance of the proper installation and servicing of any oil-fired heating system.

Meanwhile, the leader of the official Opposition says she's pleased the government appears to be taking seriously the recommendations coming out of the coroner's inquest into the deaths of five residents from carbon monoxide poisoning.

At the same time, NDP Leader Liz Hanson said today, "We'll be watching very carefully” to ensure the legislation requires those working on oil-fired appliances have the proper training and qualifications to do so.

"That doesn't exist right now,” Hanson pointed out, also noting the importance of inspections and a "chain of accountability” when it comes to work on those systems.

The proposed legislation will make the Yukon the nation's first jurisdiction to mandate CO detectors in homes with oil-fired appliances and attached garages.

The new regulations will come through amendments to the Building Standards Act, Fire Prevention Act and Electrical Protection Act.

Along with requiring the CO detectors, only certified oil burner mechanics could install or make major repairs to the appliances, though uncertified mechanics will still be able to service and make minor repairs.

With that are plans to increase the number of certified oil-fired appliance mechanics in the territory, with Yukon College offering a level A oil burner mechanic program in May. Seven apprentices have enrolled so far.

There are 16 apprentices in the territory, including 14 in their first year and two in their third.

Premier Darrell Pasloski, meanwhile, says his government has made commitments to improve the safety of oil-fired appliances in the territory.

The jury's recommendations, which are designed to prevent similar deaths in the future, mostly centred around improved legislation and education.

Pasloski said his government has already made "substantial commitments” on both of those fronts.

"I think that that's very important to let people know about oil-fired furnaces,” he said in an interview last Tuesday.

"(We've made) a commitment that we get more training for technicians in the territory, more training for inspectors and also looking at some legislative things.”

The premier also pointed to a 2012 working group formed following the deaths.

As for a timeline as to when the new legislation will be ready, Pasloski couldn't say.

"We have to look at what the legislation will be and what the consequences will be; we have to ensure that we are putting Yukoners first, I think that is the priority,” he said.

"In the end, no matter what you do, legislation is only one component ... Because you create a piece of legislation doesn't mean that solves the problem because (what) if somebody doesn't follow the legislation?”

– With a file from Ashley Joannou.