A carbon monoxide incident last Friday (November 24) is serving as a reminder of the importance of CO detectors.

Around 9:10pm that evening, Airdrie Fire crews responded to reports of a carbon monoxide incident in the 2000 Block of Bayside Road. Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel said once crews arrived at the multi-family residence, they found nine people from six homes had safely self-evacuated. Some of the residents had been alerted to the risk by their carbon monoxide detectors.

Crews quickly assessed the situation and determined the source of the gas.

"One resident in a confined attached garage had been running a gas generator, which of course we know is not safe to do," said Rabel.

The carbon monoxide had filled that home and then drifted into the adjacent units. Firefighters with breathing apparatus assessed the air quality of the homes and found levels of 750 parts per million of carbon monoxide, which is extremely high.

Crews then worked to ventilate the houses. Once further air quality assessments were finished and the area was deemed safe about an hour and a half later, the residents were allowed to return to their homes. Alberta Health Service paramedics were also on scene to evaluate the health of the evacuees. 

"AHS paramedics did assess six people on scene. Four were transported to hospital for further evaluation. I can't provide the status of their condition."

The Fire department is now reminding the community of the importance of carbon monoxide safety.

"Working carbon monoxide detectors are extremely important in every residence, because carbon monoxide, you cannot taste it, you cannot smell it and you cannot feel it," said Rabel. "It's invisible,it's the silent killer, so these detectors are extremely important."

Rabel also said it is extremely important to make sure any gas appliances like generators, furnaces, stoves and fireplaces are well maintained and ventilated to ensure they are not generating carbon monoxide.

 

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