Fire chief warns beware of carbon monoxide

People in the United States die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. This deadly gas is hard to detect because it is odorless, colorless and tasteless. 

Take the following steps to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.

Have a qualified technician inspect fuel-burning appliances at least once a year. 

Be aware the poisoning may be the cause of headaches, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, confusion. If anyone is experiencing these symptoms, call 911 and immediately move to a location that has fresh air. Do a head count to be sure all persons are accounted. Do not re-enter the premises until it has been aired out and the problem corrected. 

Install a UL carbon monoxide detector outside sleeping areas on the ceiling.

If your detector is wired directly into your home’s electrical system, you should test it monthly. If your unit is battery operated, test the detector weekly and replace the battery at least once a year. 

For the month of December, Bigfork Fire Department responded to 58 incidents: building fire, Chimney or flue fire, garbage dump fire, land medical helicopter, medical assist (2), EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury (35), vehicle accident with injuries (3), motor vehicle accident with no injuries (2), gas leak (natural gas or LPG) (5), power line down (4), water leak, dispatched and canceled en route (2). 

For the year of 2014, Bigfork Fire Department responded to 716 incidents, compared to 706 incidents in 2013. 

On behalf of the Bigfork Fire Department, we would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. We look forward to providing quality emergency services to our community for the year 2015. 

— Wayne Loeffler, Chief, Bigfork Fire Department