Plaistow Tragedy Highlights the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

The deaths of three people in Plaistow due to carbon monoxide poisoning earlier this week is focusing renewed attention on the potential dangers of the odorless, colorless gas.

According to the the New Hampshire Office of the State Fire Marshal, three adults were found dead Tuesday in a home at 5 Center Circle in Plaistow as a result of exposure to carbon monoxide gas. A fourth person was found unconscious and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for further treatment. The source of the carbon monoxide was determined to be from the home's propane-fired heating system. There was a carbon monoxide detector in the house, but its batteries had been removed.

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan recently issued a warning to residents that with the extreme weather, urgent steps are needed to reduce fire and carbon monoxide deaths and injuries. While the recent stretch of weather has received much attention, Degnan said U.S. residential fire and carbon monoxide deaths and injuries account for far more fatalities in most years than all natural disasters combined.

"From my 38 plus years of experience in the fire industry, I can tell you that no one is immune," Degnan said. "Fire can happen anytime, anywhere – and too often ends in tragedy."

In January, a family of five narrowly escaped from their home during a house fire caused by a hidden pipe connected to their wood stove. Another family in Manchester was overcome with carbon monoxide and brought to the hospital. They were lucky, as there were no working smoke or CO alarms in the homes.

There have already been five fatalities this year in New Hampshire residential fires.

Fire officials remind homeowners to ensure they have working smoke and CO detectors in their homes and that heating systems are checked regularly by a qualified technician. Finally, it is important to ensure all vents from your heating system are kept clear of snow and ice, particularly with the amount of snowfall we have had this winter.

"It is the deadliest time of the year for home fires and CO poisonings," Degnan said. "As families struggle to stay warm, it’s important to clear flues and outside exhaust vents of snow and debris, place generators outside if there is a power outage, and keep flammable materials at least three feet away from any heat source. These small, but vital, actions can be life-saving."