Merrimack Urges Generator Safety After 3 CO Poisoning Cases

The Merrimack Fire Department is urging residents to follow generator safety guidelines after responding to three carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in the past 12 hours.

Residents without power who are using generators should take every precaution, the department says. Some points to remember, via Merrimack Fire Marshal John Manuele:

• Ensure your generator is maintaned properly and in proper working condition before you need it.
• During a storm is not the time to tune up or repair a poorly running generator. Check the oil level before starting and again while the unit is stopped for refueling.
• A generator with low or dirty oil can overheat leading to a generator failure or fire. 
•  Portable generators should be placed at least 10 feet from any structure, with the exhaust facing away from any building openings such as doors, windows dryer vents etc. Keep all openings in the vacinity of the generator closed. 
• Deadly exhaust fumes can enter the building through any opening resulting in severe injury or death to unsuspecting occupants. Always make all electrical connections before starting generator and whenever possible place generator under an open sided protective cover. 
• Attempting to make electrical connections during inclement weather could lead to electrocution. Never place portable generators on or near combustible surfaces such as decks, porches, or tool sheds. Heat generated by the motor, or improper refueling methods can start a fire. Merrimack has had several structure fires as a result of this in years past.
• Never run portable generators inside any building, including basement areas and garages. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can build up in minutes injuring occupants with little to no warning. 
• A battery operated Carbon Monoxide detector is reccomended for any sleeping areas in an existing home and required in new construction. Allow plenty of time to cool the generator before refueling. Gasoline vapors can easily ignite from hot surfaces causing a flash fire and severe injuries.
• Never attempt to "hot fuel" or top off a generator while it is running. This can result in the gasoline vapors igniting and exploding the gasoline container. Always store approved gasoline containers a safe distance from generators while in use. Always store gasoline in an approved container placed in a well ventilated storage area. 
• Never store gasoline products in basements or enclosed areas of your dwelling. Never modify or construct any power cord so a generator can be connected to a receptacle, dryer or range outlet. 
•  Never connect a generator directly to panelboard without a means to prevent inadvertent connection to the normal supply system wiring. Connecting a generator directly to an electrical outlet or to a panelboard without a transfer switch or an interlocking device could result in a situation where power from the generator could energize the utility’s wiring (back feeds into the utility system). 
• Electrical power from a generator back fed through your meter into the utility system can cause fires, serious injury or death to utility workers trying to repair the lines in the street, or electricians working on nearby property’s electrical systems. 

For more information, or if you have a question, call Merrimack Fire Marshal John Manuele at: 424-3690.