Devon & Somerset firefighters promote gas safety

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is warning of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after attending two separate incidents at the same time on Wednesday night.

At 9.15pm, crews were called to a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a home in Ashleigh Close, Redhills, Exeter. A detector had alerted the occupants and the fumes were found to be coming from a defective gas cooker.

Less than 15 minutes later, crews in North Devon were called to Meddon Street, Bideford, where a detector had given warning of fumes coming from a faulty log burner flue.

Station Manager Mark Sanders said: “These incidents illustrate how important it is to have carbon monoxide detectors as well as smoke alarms. However, carbon monoxide alarms are not a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas appliances.

“You can’t see the poisonous fumes, you can’t taste them and you can’t smell them and you won’t realise you are being overcome by the fumes until it is too late.”

Key steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. It should meet European standard EN50291. Carbon Monoxide alarms are a similar size to smoke alarms and only take a few minutes to fit. They need to be put in a central location in the house and can be fixed to the wall or can be placed on a table, bookshelf or shelf.
Have fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by an appropriately qualified and registered engineer.
Don’t block ventilation and have chimneys swept at least once a year
Know the main symptoms: headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapsing and loss of consciousness. Keys signs are if symptoms clear up when you are away from home and come back when you return, or if other people in your household experience similar symptoms.
Watch out for soot or yellow/brown staining on or around your appliance, a lazy yellow / orange coloured gas flame rather than a sharp blue one or pilot lights which blow out frequently.