On Tuesday, January 29, at 6:32 am, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was called to a possible carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning incident at 5320 S.W. Barclay Court in Beaverton. When emergency crews arrived at the home, they found the owner, Marsha Stoffer, exhibiting symptoms oftentimes associated with CO poisoning. Ms. Stoffer told crews that she had been awakened by her alarm clock and as she attempted to get up, felt disoriented, dizzy and confused.* She also told crews that her furnace had been replaced the previous day. Using a PHD monitor, crews found high CO levels in the home. Crews immediately evacuated Ms. Stoffer and began ventilating the home. Metro West Ambulance transported Ms. Stoffer to Providence St. Vincent Hospital where she was treated and released later that day. Upon further investigation, fire officials found that the gas furnace, and possibly a gas water heater, located in an exterior closet on the back patio, had not been vented properly by the contractor working at the home. Instead of venting outside the home, gas was venting into the attic space and home.

CO is an odorless and colorless by-product of incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural or liquid petroleum gas, oil, wood or coal. CO replaces the oxygen in the bloodstream, eventually causing suffocation. Incidents of this magnitude are relatively rare. However, low-level CO poisoning may occur more often than recognized due to its symptoms that mimic the flu.

In 1998, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded to an incident in Aloha involving an elderly couple who suffered CO poisoning due to a malfunctioning gas furnace. The 79 year-old man died before responders got to the home; his 71 year-old wife was transported to a hospital and released several days later. In 1995, a family of five suffered CO poisoning when they brought a barbecue indoors during a power outage.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue urges individuals to take preventative measures to avoid CO poisoning. Have heating equipment serviced regularly, keep chimney flues clean, open garage doors when warming up vehicles, and always use outdoor equipment (propane or kerosene heaters, charcoal briquette barbecues, etc.) outside. For added security, install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.