Fire Department

A carbon monoxide leak in a home on the southwest side was found to be the result of blocked oven vents.

Occupants called 911 after their carbon monoxide alarm began to sound. They immediately evacuated the home and waited for Ladder Co. 7 to arrive. The occupants explained their carbon monoxide detector went off after they turned on their oven. They had just cleaned the oven the day before.

Firefighters entered the home with air monitors and detected carbon monoxide in the kitchen and other areas of the home. They ruled out the furnace as the source. As they continued their investigation and began ventilating the home, MGE was asked to respond.

Upon their arrival, MGE confirmed again the furnace was running properly. Then the technician checked the oven. That’s where they found the bottom of the oven had been lined with aluminum foil. The MGE technician explained that the foil was blocking vent holes on the bottom of the oven. Those vents allow fresh air to get in. Because they were blocked, it caused the same air to be burned over and over, creating high levels of carbon monoxide.

The technician shared his findings with the occupants, who removed the aluminum foil from the oven. Firefighters confirmed there were no elevated levels of carbon monoxide remaining in the home, and all occupants were able to return inside.