Carbon Monoxide Scare

[HayesFXFD17]

This evening the Fairfax Fire Department responded to a home that had been without power since 6am for a carbon monoxide alarm.  Due to loss of power they had rigged up alternative sources by having a generator running inside the garage.

Upon arrival crews found lethal levels of CO within the home. Fortunately we were able to mitigate the problem, ventilate and arrange for alternative housing with a family member for the resident.  As storm clean up continues please ensure that if you have or know of folks still without power that if they are using alternative sources of heat or electricity that are doing so safely and with caution having proper battery powered CO and Smoke alarms working within the residence.

There are some folks whom are serviced by VELCO who as of 4pm this afternoon our department was advised that some of those people may not have power back until 12/24.

Justin Hayes, CFI
Fire Chief

 

[Norton]

It's worth noting that the natural flow of air in cold weather moves air from an attached garage into the house, almost never in the other direction.  The interface between the garage and house is never completely airtight.  Generators should never be used in attached garages, even with the overhead doors open.  There were deaths a few years ago in Underhill from a generator in an attached garage.  The overhead doors were open, but that didn't keep the CO from migrating into the house.

[rod anode]

kondor....sad very sad