WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND), the leads of the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, are urging Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Peter Feldman to address the heightened risks of home carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter months and provide information on how the CPSC is working to combat this deadly risk, including the education and outreach being done to encourage people to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
Klobuchar and Hoeven’s bill was signed into law in 2022 and is named for two brothers from Kimball, Minnesota, who tragically died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The law established a grant program to fund initiatives to prevent similar tragedies in the future, which recently provided $200,000 to eight cities across Minnesota.
“We write to express our concerns about the increased risks of home carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter months, and to inquire into actions the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is taking to ensure that Americans are kept safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this winter,” wrote the Senators. “More than 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.”
“These risks increase during the winter as people use heating systems, water heaters, and fireplaces that use natural gas,” the Senators continued. “When used properly, these systems safely keep people warm during the coldest times of year, but improper use and faulty products put people at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.”
The full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Acting Chairman Feldman:
We write to express our concerns about the increased risks of home carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter months, and to inquire into actions the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is taking to ensure that Americans are kept safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this winter.
More than 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized. Infants, elderly people, and those with underlying health issues are most vulnerable. These risks increase during the winter as people use heating systems, water heaters, and fireplaces that use natural gas. When used properly, these systems safely keep people warm during the coldest times of year, but improper use and faulty products put people at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Just last month a couple in Garfield, Minnesota was airlifted for treatment after a carbon monoxide leak in their home. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, which is why it is so critical that Americans are made aware of the importance of having carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
Our bill, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, was signed into law in 2022. Named for two brothers from Kimball, Minnesota who tragically died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the law created a grant program to fund initiatives to prevent similar tragedies in the future. As you know, the law directs the CPSC to administer the grant program, which funds education and awareness campaigns about the need for carbon monoxide detectors, as well as the installation of these monitors.
We respectfully request that you respond to the following questions by December 19, 2025:
What steps is the CPSC taking to help prevent incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning at home?
What steps has the CPSC taken to ensure states are aware of and taking advantage of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Grant Program? What challenges do you face in working with states?
What changes to the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Grant Program would increase the program’s effectiveness?
What data has the CPSC collected on the number of carbon monoxide poisoning at-home incidents since the Grant Program went into effect?
Does the CPSC need additional resources to investigate the increase in carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter and take appropriate measures to help educate the population?
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
Hazard:
The exhaust duct can crack, allowing gases to escape inside of the home, posing a carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard that can result in death or serious injury.
Remedy:
Repair
Recall Date:
October 16, 2025
Units:
About 36,700 (In addition, about 3,500 were sold in Canada)
“The CPSC’s 32-page report, compiled using data from Southeast Louisiana fire departments, calls for urgent action. It recommends that generators be placed a minimum of 25 feet from homes to prevent carbon monoxide from entering through windows or soffits. The report also includes images showing how improper placement allowed the gas—known as the “silent killer”—to enter homes.”
• Bontrager Outdoors (Bontrager) is recalling 37 2025 Skinny Guy Campers Armor 7LT and Bontrager Outdoors 7ROD trailers. The carbon monoxide detectors may not have been installed. Dealers will install carbon monoxide detectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2025. Owners may contact Bontrager’s customer service at 1-260-768-7932.
• REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling 141 2025-2026 Holiday Rambler Incline, and Fleetwood Altitude Class C motorhomes. The electrical components under the house entry steps may fail due to water intrusion, including the carbon monoxide (CO) or Liquid Propane (LP) detector. Dealers will install latch covers on the entry steps, mudflaps, and seal the compartment seams, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 17, 2025. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-322 8216. REV’s number for this recall is 250618REV.
Following Hurricane Ida, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission started an investigation into the safety of home standby generators due to the hundreds of carbon monoxide-related calls that Louisiana’s fire service responded to in connection with the devices.
The smoke alarms can malfunction and fail to alert consumers of a fire, posing a risk of smoke inhalation or death. Smoke sensitivity tests performed on the alarms by CPSC found that one of the detectors that was tested failed to alert when exposed to pre-determined concentrations of smoke.
Amazon Ordered to Develop Remediation Plans to Notify Purchasers and the Public and to Implement Remedies to Remove Products from Consumers’ Homes
“…the Commission determined that Amazon was a “distributor” of products that are defective or fail to meet federal consumer product safety standards, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall. More than 400,000 products are subject to this order: specifically, faulty carbon monoxide (CO) detectors…”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric announced today 22 awardees of a grant program aimed at preventing carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The state and local governments were selected by CPSC, from a group of 31 applicants. CPSC will provide more than $3 million in federal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning PreventionGrant Program (COPPGP) funds that will be matched by $1 million in recipient funds. This will fund state and local government efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning PreventionGrant Program Awards
Awardee
State
Award Amount
Alaska Department of Public Safety
Alaska
$100,000.00
City of Huntington Beach
California
$53,400.00
City & County of Denver
Colorado
$82,500.00
Government of District of Columbia
District of Columbia
$130,000.00
State of Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia
$178,577.93
City of Aurora
Illinois
$51,000.00
Louisiana State Fire Marshal
Louisiana
$37,500.00
Maryland Department of State Police
Maryland
$200,000.00
City of Boston
Massachusetts
$260,031.75
City of Pontiac
Michigan
$300,000.00
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Minnesota
$200,000.00
New Hampshire Department of Safety
New Hampshire
$90,772.50
City of Jamestown
New York
$176,297.23
City of Syracuse
New York
$50,000.00
County of Rockland
New York
$100,000.00
Gates Fire District
New York
$50,000.00
City of Akron
Ohio
$76,460.00
City of Portland
Oregon
$320,000.00
City of Sevierville
Tennessee
$41,250.00
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Tennessee
$300,000.00
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Vermont
$50,772.01
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
Washington
$187,500.00
CPSC’s grant program is authorized through the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2022 to provide eligible state, local, and tribal governments with grants to purchase and install CO alarms in residential homes and dwelling units of low-income families or elderly people and facilities that serve children or the elderly, including childcare centers, public schools and senior centers, and to develop training and public education programs with the goal of preventing CO poisoning. This legislation was sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) in the Senate, and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) and Rep. Annie Kuster (D-New Hampshire) in the House. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on March 15, 2022.
“Following the deaths of two boys from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home, Congress enacted this grant program to prevent future tragedies. I am pleased that we are moving forward with these 22 grants to states and localities that will enable them to educate their residents and prevent CO poisoning in their communities,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.
Grantees will have two years to use the funding to purchase and install CO alarms and complete training and education efforts.
The burning of fuels produces CO, which is a colorless, odorless gas. Exposure to unhealthy levels of CO can lead to CO poisoning, a serious health condition that could result in death. Unintentional CO poisoning from motor vehicles and fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, portable generators, and stoves, annually kill more than 400 individuals. CO alarms save lives and should be installed on every level and outside sleeping areas in residences.
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the risk of serious injury or death associated with defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors manufactured by Shenzhen Lidingfeng Tech. and sold under multiple brand names, including PetUlove, ORIKLON, SENCKIT, Kingebai, Gaoducash, LDASEC, and AMS. The defective detectors have model number JSN-JY-909COM. Consumers should immediately dispose of these products and install new detectors.
The detectors can fail to alert consumers to the presence of smoke. Smoke sensitivity testing by CPSC found that they fail UL 217, the voluntary safety standard for smoke alarms, and may not alert consumers in the event of a house fire.
Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. CO poisoning from portable generators can kill whole families in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless. CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that people can become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.
This recall involves CHZHVAN brand combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with the model number JKD-512. The combination detectors are made of white plastic and measure about four inches in diameter. The front of the detectors contains a black plastic circle with a digital display placed in the center. “CHZHVAN” is printed above the digital display. The back of the detectors contains three slots for AAA batteries as well as a printed label which includes the model number, battery specifications of the product, and instructions.
“A new CPSC report shows that the upward trend in non-fire carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths from consumer products, including portable generators and heating appliances, continued for the 11-year period from 2010 to 2020. The estimated number of non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction rose to an all-time high of 254 in 2019. Although there were fewer estimated deaths, 211, in 2020, that number otherwise exceeds all earlier years in the period.”
“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.”
“The boiler’s flue collector can crack if exposed to a high impact event in the burner chamber, which can allow the boiler to emit carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
This recall involves 96% efficiency gas furnaces under the ARMSTRONG and AIREASE brand names with the model numbers A96UH1E045B12S, A96UH1E070B12S, and/or A96UH1E110C20S. The furnaces weigh between 129 and 170 pounds and were sold between September 2022 and March 2023. The brand name is printed on the outside of the furnace, and the model number is located on the label found by opening the furnace door.
Guam: If you lose power due to #Mawar and are using a portable generator, make sure it is outdoors – at least 20ft away from your home. One portable generator can produce as much carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars.
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas you can’t see or smell and it can kill a family in minutes. Never use your portable generator indoors. Never use your generator in your garage, even with the door open.
USCPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using BQQZHZ Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Due to Failure to Alert Consumers to Deadly Smoke and Fire; Sold on Amazon.com. Stop using and dispose of them. Don’t buy or sell them.
“#Warning: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns consumers to stop using PETRICOR, VARWANEO, and WJZTEK combination smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. The detectors can fail to alert consumers to deadly smoke. Sold Amazon.com. Stop using and dispose of them. Don’t buy or sell them.”
“Saying that manufacturers failed to make generators safer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is moving forward with proposed regulations to bolster protections. The proposal comes after reporting by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News.”
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using GLBSUNION and CUZMAK Digital Display Carbon Monoxide Detectors Due to Failure to Alert Consumers to Deadly Carbon Monoxide:
“A serious carbon monoxide (C.O.) incident that resulted in the extensive treatment of a Crested Butte woman on January 19 has raised awareness that further incidents could be an issue in houses built at the same time. All are located in the 800 block area of Gothic Avenue in the Paradise Park neighborhood and the problem appears connected to boilers that were installed with parts that have since been recalled but have not been replaced.”
“The probe covered nearly 1.5 million Explorers from the 2011 to 2017 model years and involved complaints of sickness and crashes that involved three deaths and alleged there were 657 injuries. Many complaints came from police departments that used Explorer Police Interceptors as patrol vehicles.”
“The legislation, named the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Act in honor of Burt’s sons, aims to help states adopt tougher standards to ensure carbon monoxide detectors are safe and reliable.
The legislation also authorizes the Consumer Protection Safety Commission to provide resources to states to encourage the use of CO detectors and it establishes a federal grant program to help states set up prevention education and awareness programs.”
“A whole family, gone,” said Amy Klobuchar, who was joined in Thursday’s news conference by Cheryl Burt, a Rochester mother who lost two sons to carbon monoxide poisoning in January 1996.
“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from the use of HECOPRO digital display carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. The CO detectors can fail to alert consumers to the presence of carbon monoxide…Carbon monoxide sensitivity tests performed on the detectors found that they failed to alert when exposed to pre-determined concentrations of carbon monoxide (400 ppm), in violation of relevant safety standards. If a consumer installs a CO detector that does not alert to the presence of carbon monoxide, and carbon monoxide enters the home, the consumer will not be warned of the presence of this harmful gas, making injury or death very likely…”
“Look for portable generators that shut off automatically when high levels of CO are present. Some models with CO shut-off also have reduced emissions. These models may or may not be advertised as certified to the latest safety standards for portable generators- PGMA G300-2018 and UL 2201 – which are estimated to reduce deaths from CO poisoning by 87% and 100%, respectively.”
“‘The electronic start/stop button on the pressure washer can malfunction and self-start, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if the unit is in a confined space,’ according to an announcement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Generac has received nine reports of the washers self-starting.”
The announcement comes two months after an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News detailed the deadly cost of the government’s failure to regulate portable generators.
The heater’s Emerson control valves can fail to close properly, causing soot to accumulate on the burner, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to consumers.
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