A carbon monoxide monitor may have saved a family’s life Thursday night after an alarm alerted residents to a potentially dangerous situation.
Volunteers with the Sunnyside and Debusk Volunteer Fire Departments were called to a home on Dominique Lane around 8 p.m. after the residents contacted 911 about a carbon monoxide alarm sounding inside the home.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly when inhaled at high levels. Exposure can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and dizziness to unconsciousness and death, often without warning.
The homeowners safely exited the residence as firefighters responded with large fans to ventilate the home. Firefighters’ detectors inside the house confirmed elevated levels of the gas.
The source of the carbon monoxide may have been a gas-burning fireplace. The gas supply was shut off and the home was thoroughly ventilated. The family’s propane supplier was contacted and also responded to the scene.
Units cleared the scene shortly before 11 p.m.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of having working carbon monoxide alarms in their homes, particularly near sleeping areas. Common sources of carbon monoxide include gas-burning fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, generators, and vehicles running in attached garages.
