Fire Department

A carbon monoxide emergency that prompted the brief evacuation of a west side household serves as a reminder to make sure snow isn’t covering up your exterior furnace vents.

A resident on Pike Drive called 911 after two of her carbon monoxide detectors began to alarm. She waited outside with her dog until Ladder Co. 2 arrived. The crew went inside with an air monitor and detected carbon monoxide levels ranging from around 40 parts per million (ppm) to 60 ppm. Firefighters checked a neighboring condo unit and found some residual carbon monoxide readings there as well.

Firefighters determined the carbon monoxide buildup was a result of snow covering a furnace vent outside the building. Ladder 2 brought fresh air into the condo units to bring down CO levels. MGE also responded to check additional neighboring units for carbon monoxide.