Saved by the carbon-monoxide alarm

By Alisa Howlett

BELLEVILLE – The Belleville Fire Department is reminding residents to check their carbon-monoxide detectors, after receiving a call about an activated alarm on Tuesday.

The alarm went off in a residence on Old Madoc Road just after 2 p.m. The carbon-monoxide reading was 60 parts per million.  A level of 100 parts per million can be lethal.

The fire department’s Station 4 teamed up with Bentley Heating to investigate the source of the carbon monoxide. They discovered that the outdoor vent pipe connected to the homeowner’s propane fireplace was blocked with grass clippings, causing carbon monoxide to back up to the basement furnace.

Prevention officer Dave MacMullen said knowledge is the key to preventing such incidents. Be aware of the inside and outside vents in your house, he said: “If you are mowing grass or removing snow near vents, be sure you are not inadvertently blocking them.”

MacMullen also said homeowners should have a professional look over fuel-fired appliances.

“Right now is prime time with colder weather coming in. Get a certified technician to look over heat appliances. Carbon monoxide – you don’t want that coming back to haunt you in the middle of winter.”

Residents are also advised to keep chimneys clear of brush, dirt and animals that might be making nests.

An activated carbon-monoxide alarm is to be treated the same as any emergency, MacMullen said. Residents should call 911 and request fire services and get out of the home immediately. Do not open windows or doors in attempt to air out the building. Doing this makes the source of carbon monoxide difficult to trace.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, tasteless, odorless and deadly silent killer. The early symptoms of carbon-monoxide poisoning are similar to flu symptoms.

MacMullen said the purchase of a carbon-monoxide alarm is highly recommended.