Utah Woman Dies After Being Overcome By Carbon Monoxide in Garage

Posted August 14, 2024

A woman and five other people became sick after being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes on August 7, 2024. The woman was transferred to another hospital where she later died.

 

*** PRESS RELEASE August 14, 2024 ***

On August 7, 2024, at 2:51 AM, Deputies with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in Vineyard, along with Officers from Orem Police Department, responded to a report of people who had “inhaled” gas from a vehicle at a residence in Vineyard.

When Deputies arrived they found a car in a garage and the garage door was by then open.  Deputies saw a man lying on the floor who was not conscious.  When a Deputy entered the garage he noticed the strong odor of vehicle exhaust and was unable to remain in the garage.  With another Deputy he re-entered the garage and they removed the man from the garage and began to render aid to him.  The man was breathing but was still not conscious.  This man was taken by ambulance to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.

During this time they noticed a woman’s legs were sticking out of the passenger side door in the back seat of the car.  The Deputies carried this woman outside and they noticed she was not conscious or breathing and had no pulse.  The Deputies began administering CPR, which was taken over by Orem Fire Department Paramedics when they arrived.  This woman was taken by ambulance to Timpanogos Hospital in Orem.  She was later transferred by medical helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray in critical condition.  This woman was on life support and later died on August 11, 2024 at 3:45 PM.  Her name is Angelica Maria Avila Almanza, age 24, and she lived in Vineyard.

Inside the home were a 27 year old woman and three young children ages 4 years, 2 years, and 9 months.  These four were also taken to area hospitals where they were treated and released.

Investigators believe Avila Almanza and the man were in the garage and may have been running the car motor so they could use the air conditioning.  The walk through door into the home from the garage, and the roll up garage door were closed during this time and there was no carbon monoxide sensor in the garage.  There were, however, carbon monoxide sensors inside the apartment which eventually activated.  Four other occupants of the apartment were wakened by that alarm and left the apartment and called 911.  Those four were evaluated at the scene and released.

For questions contact Sergeant Spencer Cannon, Public Information Officer, Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Cell:  (801)404-1912

Email:  jamesc@utahcounty.gov

Parents express concern about sending students back to school after carbon monoxide exposures

Posted January 22, 2024
Cedar City, Utah (update) – 
“Some families at Canyon View Middle School said they haven’t yet decided if they will send their student back to school Wednesday when in-person classes resume.

The school went virtual for two days following multiple reported carbon monoxide exposures on campus last week. Officials said all of the school’s carbon monoxide detectors will be tested while students are at home…It looks great on paper, there’s nothing there, everything’s testing 0, but three days, people have tested for CO poisoning…”

Parents express concern about sending students back to school after carbon monoxide exposures (ksltv.com)

Local Smith’s evacuated for carbon monoxide leak by firefighters shopping for groceries

Posted January 7, 2024

SANDY, Utah — A Smith’s grocery store was evacuated on Sunday morning after a group of firefighters were grocery shopping and noticed an unusual smell of combustion.

At 9:18 a.m., a crew from the Sandy City Fire Department was grocery shopping at 10305 S. 1300 East. Sandy City public affairs said a worker at the store mentioned the smell to the firefighters and they immediately began taking readings for carbon monoxide.

The crew detected high levels of the gas and alarms began to ring. The city said 30 people were evacuated out of the building and there was no complaint of illness or injury.

The energy company arrived shortly thereafter at the store to shut down furnaces and clear exhaust vents.

Sandy City gave a statement to the press reminding Utahns of the importance to routinely check for possible leaks during the cold season. A recent trend in carbon monoxide leaks in Utah includes a church in Monroe and a preschool in Draper.

“In light of the recent gas leak incident during services at a church in Monroe, Utah,” the statement read.” This serves as a reminder of how important it is to keep vents clear and furnaces in healthy working condition this time of year. CO is odorless and can be extremely dangerous when exposure levels are high and lengthy.”

Local Smith’s evacuated for carbon monoxide leak by firefighters shopping for groceries (ksltv.com)

 

Nearly 50 people treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after leak in LDS meetinghouse

Posted January 1, 2024

Monroe, Utah • Nearly 50 people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday after the toxic gas was detected in a south-central Utah meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, emergency medical teams were called to the Monroe East chapel for two separate patients. The first was for a 4-year-old girl who was having breathing problems. She had been sick earlier in the week, so it was believed that she was experiencing lingering symptoms from that illness. About an hour later, emergency crews were called to the church again for a man who was feeling sick.

Later that day, family members reported that they all had headaches when they returned home from the church. The Monroe Fire Department then went to the building, where crews detected high levels of carbon monoxide. The building was evacuated.

Officials said that throughout Sunday evening, multiple people became sick and went to Sevier Valley Hospital in nearby Richfield to seek treatment. A church spokesperson said 54 people in total reported symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Of those, 49 were treated, and 22 of them needed to be transferred to other hospitals for further care.

A church statement said the leak was caused by a malfunction in the building’s heating system.

Nearly 50 people treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after leak in LDS meetinghouse (sltrib.com)

Sevier County church remains closed after dozens treated for carbon monoxide poisoning | KUTV

Utah church where 54 fell sick wasn’t required to have carbon monoxide detector (sltrib.com)

Children evacuated from Draper daycare for high carbon monoxide levels

Posted November 29, 2023

DRAPER, Utah — Fire crews evacuated dozens of toddlers at the American Preparatory Academy in Draper Wednesday after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected.

At 3:15 p.m. fire crews arrived at the daycare after receiving reports of a possible natural gas leak. After detecting high levels of carbon monoxide inside the building, the school was ordered to be evacuated.

By the time they arrived, there were five students and five adults occupying the building. They all had noted possible symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure including headaches, nausea and vomiting.

According to American Preparatory Schools Executive Director Carolyn Sharette, it was at this time that staff immediately reported the incident.

“You can never be too careful when little kids are involved, obviously [we] don’t want anyone to be sick,” she said. “So, we’re really glad it was not as, not more serious.”

It is believed the source of the carbon monoxide originates from a gas-operated pressure washing system that was being operated on the outside of the building, where the carbon monoxide was able to enter the building from a door left open as well as an airway entrance on the rooftop.

A total of 45 toddlers and 10 adults were present on the school grounds while the power washing system may have been operated. None of the remaining people during the evacuation were transported to the hospital but were asked to transport themselves to a hospital to be examined for carbon monoxide exposure.

Officials say five children and four adults that were treated at the hospital are doing fine now, with the facility itself back up and running Thursday.

Officials are also asking anyone present at the school during this time to also be examined for carbon monoxide exposure.

Children evacuated from Draper daycare for high carbon monoxide levels (fox13now.com)

 

ZLINE Expands Consumer Options in Recall of Gas Ranges; Serious Risk of Injury or Death from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Posted November 21, 2023

“These ranges were recalled in January 2023, and consumers were offered a repair. ZLINE is expanding the remedies available to consumers to also include a replacement range or a refund. All consumers who have an affected range should immediately stop using the oven compartment, even if they have already had their range repaired as part of the prior recall.”

ZLINE Expands Consumer Options in Recall of Gas Ranges; Serious Risk of Injury or Death from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (prnewswire.com)

 

Family of 4 poisoned by CO after leaving vehicle running in garage

Posted November 17, 2023

Ogden City Fire Department

CLOSE CALL: This week we responded to a family of four experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – dizziness, nausea, and headaches. It was discovered that they had left their car running in the garage, causing a slow carbon monoxide leak into the home. Fortunately, all are now stable, but the situation could have been far graver.
🚨 Important reminder: Carbon monoxide (or CO for short) is a serious threat and can cause serious illness and even death. CO is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and highly toxic. Ensure your home is equipped with a functioning CO detector to safeguard against potential risks.

Carbon monoxide deaths are climbing, putting families in peril: ‘My son is lucky to be alive’

Posted April 24, 2023
Utah –
Excellent article on the long term physical effects of CO exposure centered around this recent poisoning incident in Utah.
“…(he) had gotten very sick over the course of the day, then woke up in the middle of the night with severe thirst. When he tried to get out of bed, his entire left side had gone completely numb…
‘Brenden fell and hit his head on a dresser, then tumbled down the stairs to the bathroom, and that’s where they found him…’
The source of the fumes was a new heater for the outdoor swimming pool, which had just been hooked up and was kept in the garage below the room where (he) was living.”
Carbon monoxide deaths are climbing, putting families in peril: ‘My son is lucky to be alive’ – WFIN Local News

17 people recovering after carbon monoxide poisoning at central Utah clinic

Posted January 24, 2023
Ephraim, UT –
“The Central Utah Counseling Center in Ephraim was evacuated a week ago after a problem with an old furnace was discovered. People started feeling sick, with a variety of symptom…Havens is calling for a change to state regulations that would require public and commercial buildings to have working carbon monoxide detectors. ‘I really would like to see a change in Utah’s policies that offices should have to have it,’ Havens said. ‘Not just medical offices but all commercial buildings should have to have it because people shouldn’t have to go through this.’”
17 people recovering after carbon monoxide poisoning at central Utah clinic (ksltv.com)

NFPA Journal: General Negligence

Posted March 14, 2021

“A new Fire Protection Research Foundation report highlights the nation’s enduring CO problem”

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring/index.php?startid=20#/p/20

CO Detection: What It Is and Why We Need It

Posted January 10, 2021

At least 60 sickened by CO at LDS church; some may suffer long-term

Posted October 21, 2019

“Firefighters were called to the meetinghouse at 650 E. Stadium Ave. in Provo just after 11 a.m. Sunday. They later learned that a boiler problem had sent a buildup of carbon monoxide into the church…Firefighters measured the carbon monoxide in the air at the church at 400 to 500 ppm…Of the 60 people treated, 24 underwent hyperbaric treatment, a therapy where people with carbon monoxide poisoning are put in a chamber filled with pure oxygen”

CO poisoning at Provo church serves as reminder of cold weather risks – Deseret News

https://kutv.com/news/local/at-least-60-sickened-by-carbon-monoxide-at-lds-church-some-may-suffer-long-term

Nearly lethal CO leak undetected in high priest group meeting

Posted December 19, 2016

Alpine, UT—

“A nearly lethal carbon monoxide leak at a church in Alpine Utah went completely undetected by the high priest’s group meeting in the room. The leak, resulting from a malfunctioning heating system, caused many of the older priesthood holders to cough excessively while rendering other attendees completely unresponsive…Emergency crews were late arriving at the scene because people looking through the classroom window did not detect anything out-of-the-ordinary when they saw the breathless, wheezing, or passed-out high priests…”

The Mormon Tabernacle Enquirer: NEARLY LETHAL CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK UNDETECTED IN HIGH PRIEST GROUP MEETING (motabenquirer.blogspot.com)