Burlington Fire Department

Office of the City Fire Marshal

132 North Avenue

Burlington Vt 05401

(802)864-6923        (802)316-0465

Safety Alert: Potential now exists for dangerous carbon monoxide buildup

Update:  January 3, 2010   1:30 pm


Keep Appliance Vents and Gas Meters free of ice and snow
With anecdotal reports of total snow accumulation in excess of two feet in some parts of Chittenden and Franklin counties, there is now a  potential for the buildup of carbon monoxide gas inside homes equipped with direct vents heating systems.  Many homes have direct vents mounted at less than the recommended minimum height of 18  inches.  As of 8AM Sunday, no carbon monoxide incidents had yet been reported in the City of Burlington.

Beware of exhaust getting trapped by snow around a sidewall vent.  If a vent is obstructed, exhaust gasses accumulate in the snowbank and get re-circulated into the air intake.  This causes incomplete combustion, which creates carbon monoxide, an invisible, silent and deadly killer.  Normally, any carbon monoxide would be vented to the outside air, but with a snowbank causing the gas to accumulate, it seeps in through the walls and foundation, building up in side the home.

Maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Be sure to have working carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of your home, especially where people sleep.  The best practice is to use AC/DC smoke and carbon monoxide alarms which are interconnected so that an emergency in one part of the home will sound the alarm everywhere and allow you to escape.

Remember that carbon monoxide detectors have a service life of only five years.  If your detectors are more than five years old, they may not work properly. Check your local codes and ordinances for the most recent requirements as you upgrade them, and make sure to check your smoke detectors as well. Smoke alarms are good for ten years, and should be upgraded  to  AC/DC photoelectric smoke alarms mounted in every bedroom when they are due for replacement.  More information about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is available on www.burlingtonfire.net. , from www.vtfiresafety.org or from your  local fire department.

In the event your carbon monoxide detectors go into alarm, you should evacuate the area immediately.  If anyone is feeling sick, call 911 at once. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning mimic those of the flu.  General fatigue, headache, nausea are followed by confusion, increased lethargy and loss of consciousness. A good way to differentiate between the flu and carbon monoxide poisoning is to compare symptoms with other family members.  Generally, the flu begins in one member of the family and progresses to others.  With carbon monoxide poisoning, the whole family gets sick at once.

Once everyone is in a safe location, check your direct vents to make sure they are free of ice and snow buildup. If clearing away the snow doesn't solve the problem, shut down your appliance and contact a qualified service technician to inspect the device.


Other winter safety tips;

Expect Dangerous Driving Conditions
With another 4-8 inches of snow expected by Monday morning and with blowing and drifting snow predicted, we can expect blinding white outs and dangerous driving conditions for the next few days.  Unnecessary travel should be avoided.

If you must travel, be sure to allow extra time to reach your destination.  Pack an emergency kit in your vehicle to include first aid supplies, warm blankets, hats, mittens and some non-perishable food.  Let someone know your route of travel and destination and a time to expect you.

Shovel out Fire Hydrants and Exit Paths
With heavy drifting and blowing snow, make sure everyone can still get out in the event of a fire.

Fire engines only carry enough water in their tanks to operate for the first few minutes of a fire.  Make sure that we can find and operate the fire hydrants closest to your home.  Hydrants should be cleared for at least three feet in every direction, and a three foot path should be cleared out to the road.

Snow and ice accumulation may interfere with the operation of gas meters and regulators, or may slow access in case of an emergency.  Snow removal activities or ice falling from rooftops can also pose a hazard to your meter assembly or piping. Protect your gas meters, piping and propane tanks from falling ice or snow.  Don’t push or pile snow around meters. Be careful when using a snow blower or plow to avoid damage meters or piping. Keep meters and regulators clear of snow and ice by using a broom or by hand – not a shovel.

If your meter gets encased in ice and starts to make an unusual noise, contact Vermont Gas immediately at 863-4511. For additional winter weather safety tips, please visit the Vermont Gas website at http://www.vermontgas.com/safety/safety.html , the Burlington Fire Department web site at www.burlingtonfire.net or the Vt Division of Fire Safety Website at www.vtfiresafety.org

If you smell gas:    Evacuate the area and call 911 and your local gas company
Vermont Gas can be reached 24 hours a day at (802)863-4511



Thomas A. Middleton,
Assistant Fire Marshal
Burlington Fire Department
132 North Avenue,
Burlington Vermont, 05401
(802)864-6923 voice
(802)316-0465 cell
(802)658-7665 fax
tamiddleton@ci.burlington.vt.us

 Expect Dangerous Driving Conditions

With up to 14 inches of snow expected by Monday morning, snow continuing through the week, and with blowing and drifting snow carried around by winds of up to 40 mph, we can expect blinding white outs and dangerous driving conditions for the next few days.  Unnecessary travel should be avoided.

 

Shovel out Fire Hydrants and Exit Paths

With heavy drifting and blowing snow, make sure everyone can still get out in the event of a fire.

 

Fire engines only carry enough water in their tanks to operate for the first few minutes of a fire.  Make sure that we can find and operate the fire hydrants closest to your home.  Hydrants should be cleared for at least three feet in every direction, and a three foot path should be cleared out to the road.

 

Keep Appliance Vents and Gas Meters free of ice and snow

Beware of exhaust getting trapped by snow around a sidewall vent.  If a vent is obstructed, the appliance may shut down or malfunction and create a potentially hazardous condition, such as a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide.  Keep vents clear of snow and ice.

Make sure you have functional carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home. For additional information about carbon monoxide detectors, visit the fire safety page at  www.burlingtonfire.net .

 

Snow and ice accumulation may interfere with the operation of gas meters and regulators, or may slow access in case of an emergency.  Snow removal activities or ice falling from rooftops can also pose a hazard to your meter assembly or piping. Protect your gas meters, piping and propane tanks from falling ice or snow.  Don’t push or pile snow around meters. Be careful when using a snow blower or plow to avoid damage meters or piping. Keep meters and regulators clear of snow and ice by using a broom or by hand – not a shovel. 

If your meter gets encased in ice and starts to make an unusual noise, contact Vermont Gas immediately at 863-4511. For additional winter weather safety tips, please visit the Vermont Gas website at http://www.vermontgas.com/safety/safety.html , the Burlington Fire Department web site at www.burlingtonfire.net or the Vt Division of Fire Safety Website at www.vtfiresafety.org

 

If you smell gas:    Evacuate the area and call 911 and your local gas company

Vermont Gas can be reached 24 hours a day at (802)863-4511