“…evidence at trial showed that there were no obvious sources to explain elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home. Mr. Way purchased products known to react together to create carbon monoxide…”
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) — Two people were found dead in a home in suburban Milwaukee from an apparent carbon monoxide leak.
A family member first made the heartbreaking discovery at the home in Greenfield and called 911.
When first responders got there, they found two men, a father and son, unresponsive.
They immediately noticed the leak was coming from a furnace in the basement.
Officials are now urging you to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.
Carbon monoxide detectors are required in Wisconsin. They’re easy to install and are a strong defense against the colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
Two men found dead in Milwaukee area home filled with carbon monoxide | News | wkow.com
Carbon monoxide readings in the bathrooms serviced by this heating unit reached over 60 parts per million. People exposed to this level of carbon monoxide typically show symptoms after 4-5 hours of continued exposure.
Firefighters turned off the thermostat to stop the generation of more carbon monoxide, and MGE was called to their location. Meanwhile, Engine 8 and the property owner proceeded to the roof to check the heating unit. Upon returning indoors, they found someone had already turned the thermostat back on. New readings from the bathroom were now over 90 ppm. CO levels as high as 2000 ppm were detected directly from the exhaust of the heating unit, confirming this appliance was the source of the problem.
MGE shut down power to the heating unit and isolated the gas line servicing it. MFD and MGE advised that the unit must not be used again until seen and repaired by a certified technician.
MFD confirmed all air quality readings returned to normal before clearing from the call.
The EMS call that originally summoned Engine 8 to this location was not related to carbon monoxide exposure.
MADISON, Wis. — The second time was the charm for first responders searching for the cause of elevated carbon monoxide readings at a multi-unit home in Madison early Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm sounding at the home in the 900 block of East Johnson Street around 2 a.m. A resident told firefighters the alarm had been sounding for roughly two hours; another resident reported mild symptoms possibly indicating carbon monoxide exposure, according to a Madison Fire Department incident report.
Firefighters traced the highest concentration of carbon monoxide to a rear living area but were unable to identify a source after ruling out nearby vehicles, appliances and a fire pit.
After ventilating the building, firefighters told the residents to call 911 if the alarm sounded again — which it did around an hour and 45 minutes after the first call. One of the occupants reported a wall near the elevated carbon monoxide levels was warm to the touch.
When firefighters returned, they used a thermal imaging camera to identify heat signatures on the wall, the report said. After removing the siding from the outside of the wall, they found smoldering insulation and charred studs near degraded electrical conduits.
Madison, WI –
“According to Juneau County Sheriff’s Office’s initial statement, deputies went to the cabin, in Armenia Township, around 5 p.m. on Monday, March 27, after getting two calls asking them to check on the individuals there. Upon arrival, they discovered two people, neither of whom appeared to be breathing.”
Sheriff: Juneau County cabin death likely caused by carbon monoxide (wsaw.com)
Madison, WI –
“Firefighters were called to the apartment…after a carbon monoxide alarm sounded…Because of the incident, firefighters were able to discover a malfunctioning garage exhaust system.”
Vehicle exhaust fills west Madison apartment with carbon monoxide | News | channel3000.com
An occupant at 21 Sayner Court dialed 911 after a carbon monoxide detector inside their apartment building began to alarm. Ladder Co. 2 arrived to the eight-unit apartment building and immediately noted a strong odor of vehicle exhaust in the hallway just inside the front door. The crew used an air monitor to detect approximately 40 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide* in the first floor hallway. Occupants were asked to evacuate to the outdoors for their safety.
Meanwhile, Ladder 2’s crew proceeded to the underground parking structure, where carbon monoxide levels increased to 104 ppm. There were only two vehicles in the garage and neither were running at the time. Firefighters also noticed that the garage’s exhaust system was not turned on. The overhead door was opened to attempt to get some fresh air into the garage.
Firefighters went door to door to obtain additional carbon monoxide readings. Some apartment units had 40 ppm and others had very little. Patio doors and window were opened.
Eventually, firefighters pinpointed a running vehicle parked outside emitting high levels of exhaust. The owner said the vehicle had been parked in the underground lot and found to have a dead battery. After a jump, he took the vehicle outside, where it had been running for the past hour. It is unknown how long the vehicle was parked indoors before being moved outside, but firefighters suspect this was the source of the carbon monoxide buildup indoors.
The incident led to the discovery of a malfunctioning garage exhaust system, which should have alarmed and self-activated upon detecting high levels of carbon monoxide. Firefighters alerted maintenance staff to the problem, and maintenance staff said they would have the system serviced Monday (3/6/23).
With a smile, the person who called 911 asked if they would get a medal for calling this in. The firefighters were lacking medals aboard Ladder Co. 2, but they were sincerely grateful that this person dialed 911 before anyone in the building became ill from the carbon monoxide. After a quick trip to the ladder truck, a firefighter returned to the 911 caller’s unit to say “thank you” and to award them a shiny silver badge sticker.
*Exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to illness and death depending on the level of carbon monoxide in the air and the amount of time exposed to it. Most people being experiencing symptoms after being exposed to at least 50 ppm of carbon monoxide for eight hours or more.
“Ashley and her husband Travis started a one-family campaign for change, making calls and sending emails to get CO detectors installed in their children’s school.
‘I was angry, but our anger led to something positive,’ Travis Wilson said.
The school district approved detectors in all schools in the district, thanks to Wilsons’ efforts.”
“Currently, there are no federal laws requiring CO alarms in buildings. Local laws regarding CO alarms and detectors vary across counties and cities and towns. There are exceptions to the regulations as well. Some require them in new buildings but not in existing ones. Some require them in sleeping spaces while other requirements apply only to buildings with a fuel-burning source.
The most recent federal law, Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2021, signed by the president, encourages states to adopt tougher standards but does not require the use of CO detectors. It authorizes the Consumer Protection Safety Commission to provide resources to states and encourages the use of alarms. It also establishes a grant program to help states sponsor awareness programs.
But Congress was able to require one federal agency to mandate CO alarms. Following multiple carbon monoxide poisoning deaths, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set a deadline of December 27th to have carbon monoxide alarms installed in 3 million of its units nationwide.”
“A broken exhaust fan led to a carbon monoxide build-up Monday night in a Southwest Side underground parking garage, authorities reported.
Fire crews responded to the apartment building in the 90 block of Kessel Court on reports of carbon monoxide alarms sounding, Madison Fire Department spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said in a statement.”
https://madison.com/news/local/broken-exhaust-fan-leads-to-carbon-monoxide-build-up-in-southwest-side-underground-garage-authorities/article_01fad19f-8774-5f86-bef4-69eb8d6ca168.html
“Ashley Wilson couldn’t shake the worry of her son getting carbon monoxide poisoning at school.
It may not be the first concern that comes to mind when a parent thinks about their child at school, but for Wilson, the worry was warranted.
In February 2020, her family suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after the boiler in their former apartment was leaking. There was no detector installed to indicate the presence of the colorless, odorless, potentially deadly, gas.
She would try to reassure herself that the schools were safe but decided she needed to reach out after she heard news about 17 people being sent to the hospital after carbon monoxide levels reached dangerously high levels in a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee dorm.
To Wilson’s surprise, the Appleton Area School District told her there aren’t detectors in any of the school buildings.
State law doesn’t require them in schools, but it does require them on every level of Wisconsin homes. According to the state Department of Health Services, carbon monoxide poisoning sends about 500 Wisconsinites to the emergency room each year…”
Appleton schools to add carbon monoxide detectors following mom’s plea (postcrescent.com)
UWM carbon monoxide leak, students to be compensated (fox6now.com)
The university said it did not install carbon monoxide detectors in the dorms because they are not required by law.
UWM dorm affected by gas leak didn’t have detectors in living areas (jsonline.com)
UWM carbon monoxide leak; loophole in building code, attorney says (fox6now.com)
“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
Glendale, WI –
“North Shore Fire says four people were treated on scene with two rushed to the hospital…’I’m not sure how long each of those employees was here but obviously progressing over the entire shift, being exposed to those levels could be fatal,’ Capt. Dan Tyk said….Firefighters said the highest levels of carbon monoxide were measured at 500 parts per million. Investigators said the oven hood wasn’t venting properly. ”
CO alarms alert to danger and prompt the safe evacuation of more than 70 children from KinderCare in Cedarburg, WI…https://www.wisn.com/article/day-care-center-evacuated-because-of-carbon-monoxide/26030691
Apartment building in La Crosse, WI, evacuated for CO levels at 200ppm…https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/fire-department-high-carbon-monoxide-levels-prompted-evacuation-of-downtown/article_a8abd8b1-d887-578d-9ae4-959b2428e4b0.html
Marquette, WI –
“A carbon monoxide detector in an apartment in The Ivy woke up residents in a neighboring apartment Nov. 3 at 7 a.m. after Burger King’s furnace began to leak. The Ivy apartments, located on 811 N. 14th St., sit right above Burger King…
Then a few days later Nov. 8 at 6 a.m., another carbon monoxide detector in a different apartment unit in the building went off and the fire department returned. This time, they found that the source of the leak was one of two furnaces in Burger King…fire department’s incident report stated…that We Energies confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide and determined that Burger King was emitting 1,000+ ppm to the exterior of the building. From there, it was entering apartments.”
Carbon monoxide leaks into The Ivy apartments from the Burger King below
Portage, WI – “Emergency crews responded to Dawn’s Foods after dispatchers received a report of a person feeling lightheaded around 3:17 p.m. Wednesday.
When crews arrived at the scene, they found a carbon monoxide levels at 800 parts per million…”
Engine Company 1 responded twice to a State Street restaurant for carbon monoxide alarm activations that were ultimately traced to a leak in a kitchen appliance.
The first alarm activation came in at 12:41 a.m. Saturday, August 25. Firefighters forced entry to Noodles & Co. (232 State Street) through a window, finding CO levels at 200 parts per million near the kitchen. The crew took measures to shut off gas lines and appliances to put a stop to the CO leak, and they began ventilating the restaurant to clear the air. While CO levels went down, they did not fully disappear. MGE remained on scene to try to determine the origins of the CO leak.
A day later, at 8:36 a.m. Sunday, August 26, Engine Company 1 was called back to the restaurant for another CO alarm activation. Air monitors showed levels ranging from 50 ppm in the kitchen to 150 ppm in the basement. After searching the entire restaurant, firefighters discovered a carbon monoxide and natural gas leak coming from a kitchen appliance. MGE tagged and turned off the unit, and firefighters ventilated the restaurant until the CO dissipated.
The restaurant was closed and unoccupied at the time of both MFD responses. There were no illnesses or injuries relating to the carbon monoxide incidents.
https://www.cityofmadison.com/fire/daily-reports/carbon-monoxide-leak-found-at-downtown-restaurant
Kenosha, WI –
“A mechanical problem caused carbon monoxide levels to spike at Hob Nob restaurant…the Somers Fire Department was called to the restaurant…for 12 people – a mix of restaurant staff and customers – complaining they were feeling ill. ‘We found carbon monoxide levels at 600 parts per million…'”
https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/article_8bd58c8b-bf2d-546d-bef6-659526694731.html
Madison, WI –
“Crews were called to That BBQ Joint on Williamson Street Saturday close to 5 p.m. after complaints of an “odd smell.” When firefighters arrived, they found a carbon monoxide leak and evacuated the restaurant.
According to Madison Fire Department, slight levels of carbon monoxide were found on the main floor; however, in the basement where the business owner said the odd smell was coming from, carbon monoxide levels spiked to 800 parts per million…the carbon monoxide leak, and likely the smell, came from a boiler malfunction in the basement.”
“Employees at a downtown restaurant called for the services of the Madison Fire Department Tuesday night when they realized there was a carbon monoxide leak in the basement.
All occupants had already evacuated when Engine Company 1 arrived to 419 State Street, Zandru’s Tapas Bar. MGE was also on scene inspecting the gas water heaters and gas boilers serving the business and the apartments above the restaurant…The restaurant manager was told they would not be allowed to re-open until a licensed gas appliance technician comes in to perform the appropriate repairs.”
https://cityofmadison.com/fire/daily-reports/downtown-restaurant-closed-tuesday-due-to-carbon-monoxide-leak
Poppy Waterman Ice Rick – Lake Delton, WI
“Authorities at the Delton Fire Department said the cause of the carbon monoxide leak was the rink’s resurfacing machine. The rink will stay closed until the machine can be fixed, officials said. A mechanic is scheduled to start working on it Monday…Ice Hawks President Michael Fatis says the incident makes a good case for a Wisconsin regulation similar to a Minnesota law which requires carbon monoxide detectors at ice rinks.”
81 hospitalized for CO leak at hockey rink (channel3000.com)
COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. —
“Dane County dispatch said three people were sent to the hospital following a carbon monoxide leak at a fast food restaurant in Cottage Grove early Monday morning. The incident happened just before 6 a.m. at the McDonald’s in the 400 block of West Cottage Grove Road…”
https://www.channel3000.com/cottage-grove-restaurant-evacuated-after-co-leak/#:~:text=COTTAGE%20GROVE%2C%20Wis.,of%20West%20Cottage%20Grove%20Road.
MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Fire officials say 11 people were taken to St. Luke’s Medical Center after they were exposed to carbon monoxide fumes at the Playmakers Sports Center, located in the 5300 block of W. Fond du Lac Avenue.
Officials say workers on Monday, July 15th were trying to remove carpeting using a propane fueled tool, which started emitting fumes.
An employee at the store passed out, and this prompted the store to call the fire department. Fire officials then discovered elevated carbon monoxide levels in the building.
The building was evacuated and ventilated, and 11 were taken to the hospital. The 11 men were placed into a hyperbaric chamber, pressurized with oxygen to provide extra oxygen to the brain and remove the carbon monoxide.
All of the men taken to the hospital were listed in fair condition. Their ages range from 26-50.
Officials say most of those transported were carpet removal workers, and the rest were store employees.
https://www.fox6now.com/news/11-taken-to-hospital-due-to-carbon-monoxide-fumes-at-playmakers
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