Calgary Fire Responds to Carbon Monoxide Incident in Marlborough

At around 8:25am fire crews responded to the 4700 block of Marbury PL NE for a carbon monoxide (CO) incident in a residential home. An Emergency Health Service (EHS) ambulance crew was on scene responding to a medical call at the home when their carbon monoxide alarm activated. The ambulance crew was able to evacuate themselves and one adult patient from the front door area and called for Calgary Fire crews to attend.

On arrival fire crews detected 500ppm of CO on entry to the home, levels which can be fatal with a few hours of exposure. For comparison, fire crews will evacuate people from a structure at 50ppm of CO. Crews donned self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to safely enter the home and carried out second patient and removed them from the home.  EHS assessed both patients and transported. Fire crews completed a search of the home and confirmed there were no additional people or animals. They shut off the furnace and ventilated the home using electric fans until there was no CO reading in the home. ATCO gas attended the scene to support.

The Calgary Fire Department reminds all residents that working carbon monoxide alarms save lives and should be installed on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas. Normally hot air rises and gases, such as CO, rise upwards however during very cold weather conditions a thermal inversion occurs and the cold air acts like a lid. This "lid” keeps gases like CO from rising and levels can build up much faster. Most commonly, the main source of CO gas in your home is your furnace, but any household appliances which run on fuels, like natural gas and propane and even fireplaces can be a source. Schedule routine maintenance and inspections performed by qualified personnel to ensure these appliances are working properly.

During cold weather conditions another common sources of CO is from vehicles. Never idle vehicles inside enclosed spaces, such as garages or near air inlets to buildings.

If you are exposed to CO gas, you may get flu-like symptoms such as:

• headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• confusion
• fatigue
• lose consciousness. 

A CO alarm that is continuously repeating a 4-beeping pattern means it detects CO and everyone should get out and call 9-1-1. Let the Emergency Communications Officer know if anyone is experiencing the symptoms of CO exposure.

CO alarms should be installed on every level of the home including the basement and most importantly be placed near bedrooms so people can hear them where they sleep. CO alarms can be purchased at any hardware stores. Caution should be taken when ordering any CO alarms online and ensure that alarms meet Canadian safety standards.

For more information on carbon monoxide safety, visit calgary.ca/fire and ATCO Gas

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