Silent but deadly: York Region families have close calls with CO, fires

Yorkregion.com
Lisa Queen
Jan 11, 2018

The Huang family thought they were suffering from a violent flu, but it was something more serious.

Richmond Hill resident Winnie Huang, her husband and her two children, eight and 10, were vomiting and experiencing severe headaches. Concerned and unable to drive to the hospital, Huang called 911.

When York Region Paramedics entered the home, the carbon monoxide detectors attached to their medical kits sounded.

“We had no idea about the dangers of CO or needing detectors,” she said. “I have told all my friends and hope sharing our story will help others.”

A non-lethal reading of CO is 70 parts per million; the Huang home read 350 to 400 ppm, Richmond Hill Fire Services educator Shanyn Godward confirmed. A ventilation issue, which has since been repaired, was the cause of the CO levels. And detectors have now been installed in the home.

“By law, CO detectors have to be installed near all sleeping areas,” Godward added. “There are still people who aren’t aware and it’s the only way to detect the odourless, colourless gas we call the silent killer.”

Vaughan firefighters reported responding to five CO calls between Christmas and New Years.

“It ranges between two to four times the annual average in terms of the CO incidents we respond to in January,” Vaughan fire’s Deryn Rizzi said. “The big thing that we see is the vehicles running in the garage. They think they can open the garage door and it will be fine, but that’s not the case. If they have a door that separates the garage to the home, it can go into the home.”

Dave Burkholder and his wife Trudy’s carbon monoxide detector alarm went off at 6 p.m. on Christmas Day, alerting the Markham couple that something was wrong.

He took her to her shift at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where she's a registered nurse. And when he returned, the alarm was still sounding. He called the fire department.

“I didn’t feel any ill effects,” he said. “The fire department said they’ll be right over and they were there in three minutes.”

Once readings were taken, the firefighters determined the source of the CO leak was the furnace. Readings near the furnace showed 60 parts per million, well above safe levels. A big fan was used to vent the house.

Enbridge was notified and the Burkholders got a new furnace on Dec. 27.

He was pleased with the carbon monoxide detector and plans to double up his use of them in the future.

“We had it upstairs in our hallway outside our bedroom. I’m going to get another one for downstairs, too,” he said. “Our grandchildren sleep at our home. It’s reassuring to know these things work and they have a purpose. They are very important.”

Meanwhile, a heat lamp on an extension cord running from a house to a makeshift barn in Bradford is being blamed for an electrical fire Jan. 3 that killed livestock.

“We were just trying to keep (the animals) warm,” owner Alfred Lam said, adding the heat lamps are used all winter long to combat frigid temperatures.

“We never would have expected this.”

But Bradford West Gwillimbury Fire Chief Kevin Gallant has seen more than his fair share of electrical fires.

“Realistically, you try to discourage any form of temporary wiring,” he said.

“Lord knows I’ve gone to enough fires over the years due to temporary wiring, extension cords, (cords) running under carpets, things like that.”

This winter’s bone-chillingly cold temperatures are challenging residents to find ways to stay warm, prompting fire departments to warn people to beware of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.

“People find different ways to heat their homes, whether it’s furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, portable generators, anything like that. Without sufficient ventilation, this can lead to carbon monoxide buildup in people’s homes,” Ryan Schell, chief fire prevention officer with Central York Fire Services, said.

“When people are using appliances like furnaces and fireplaces, the calls go up. When it’s colder, we get an increase in those types of calls, only because people are using those (fuel-burning) appliances.”

While fire and carbon monoxide poisoning incidents are a concern year-round, winter can also increase certain other dangers, Whitchurch-Stouffville fire prevention officer Brianna Baker added.

“During the winter months, when people are using their space heaters and fireplaces, it poses a risk if not used properly,” she said.

“You want to make sure when you are using your fireplace, you clean out the ashes and put them in a metal bin and take them outside the cool. Keep the cage around the fireplace and keep combustibles away from space heaters.”

Those are just a few of the many challenges firefighters face trying to battle fires during winter’s extreme temperatures, Gallant said.

With files from Heidi Riedner and Laura Finney

Tips from York Region fire departments to keep you safe from fire and carbon monoxide risks:

-Ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas; and check the dates to make sure they are within the manufacturer’s deadlines.

-Plan an emergency escape route and make sure it isn’t obstructed by snow or ice.

-If an alarm sounds, leave the house immediately, keep doors closed and call 911 from outside.

-Pull your vehicle out of the garage to warm it up.

-Only use gas generators and barbecues outside.

-Clear snow away from furnace vents.

-Make sure your home’s wiring is current.

-Don’t overload electrical outlets.

-Check electrical cords to make sure they aren’t frayed.

-Keep combustible items away from space heaters.

-Have appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces and wood stoves inspected, cleaned and maintained at least annually by certified professionals.

-Make sure pets are wearing identification so they can be returned if they escape.