UPDATED:

Langford Fire Rescue is warning residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) after responding to six incidents in the past two months where the deadly gas was present inside a home.

In two of those cases, ambulances were called to treat residents for CO poisoning.

B次元官网网址淚n every incident, it was a carbon monoxide detector that alerted the occupants that there was a serious and life-threatening problem inside the house,B次元官网网址� said Langford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Chris Aubrey. B次元官网网址淭hose inside had no idea there was a problem until the detector started to sound.B次元官网网址�

On average, Aubrey said, the department only gets a few carbon monoxide related calls in a year.

This recent rash of incidents has the department worried that a number of residents B次元官网网址� those who donB次元官网网址檛 have detectors B次元官网网址� may be living in dangerous situations.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a concern for us,B次元官网网址� he said.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is produced when fuels such as natural gas, gasoline, oil, propane, wood or coal are burned. CO levels can reach deadly proportions if there is poor ventilation or equipment isnB次元官网网址檛 working correctly.

But Aubrey warned itB次元官网网址檚 not just older equipment that needs to be monitored. One of the recent calls was to a new home, which had two gas fireplaces.

B次元官网网址淔ortis determined the seals around the glass werenB次元官网网址檛 installed correctly,B次元官网网址� he said, explaining the cause of the carbon monoxide leak from the new fireplaces.

Another recent call was to a home that didnB次元官网网址檛 have a wood burning stove or natural gas. Investigation determined the likely cause was a car idling outside the home, Aubrey said.

Cases such as this one are why the department is recommending that all homes have carbon monoxide detectors installed. The units are also available in combination with smoke detectors, which are popular in new buildings and can help save a little bit of money.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something most people donB次元官网网址檛 even consider,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said. With CO detectors costing roughly between $30 and $65, he added, itB次元官网网址檚 an expense that could potentially save lives.

Given COB次元官网网址檚 invisible properties, many people donB次元官网网址檛 realize when they have been exposed to it, he said. B次元官网网址淐arbon monoxide poisoning has similar symptoms as the flu, so it can often be discounted as nothing more than just not feeling well. Without a detector, you would never know just how dangerous the conditions in your home have become.B次元官网网址�

Unlike a smoke detector, where the source setting off an alarm is usually easy to detect, a carbon monoxide alarm doesnB次元官网网址檛 have an obvious source, Aubrey said, so itB次元官网网址檚 important to make sure detectors are in proper working order and not placed right beside a device such as a wood burning stove.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e only effective if theyB次元官网网址檙e working,B次元官网网址� he said.

CO detectors should be located on every level of your home. They should be checked regularly, just like smoke detectors, and replaced every seven years. They are available at most home supply stores.

For more information, contact LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Fire Prevention Unit at 250-478-9555.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com