Peterborough, NH – A gas-powered generator running too close to a home on Sand Hill Road resulted in dangerous carbon monoxide levels that forced the evacuation of four occupants, officials said.
According to Peterborough Fire Chief Edmund W. Walker, residents at 581 Sand Hill Road lost power during Monday’s storm and were running a gas-powered generator. The generator triggered a carbon monoxide detector in the home, Walker said, which was tied to Central Station Monitoring, a national alarm monitoring service. Central Station Monitoring notified the Peterborough Fire Department, according to Walker.
The Peterborough Fire Department responded to 581 Sand Hill Road around 10:20 p.m. According to Walker, firefighters were delayed in their response because of a downed tree on Sand Hill Road, which forced them to take a lengthy detour on Route 101 and East Mountain Road.
Upon firefighters’ arrival, carbon monoxide readings in the basement of the home were found to be well over 350 parts per million (ppm), Walker said. According to to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, carbon monoxide levels over 150 ppm can result in disorientation, unconsciousness and death.
Firefighters evacuated four adult occupants and remained on scene for about an hour, clearing the carbon monoxide from the residence with electric fans, Walker said, adding that no one required medical treatment.
Everyone was fine, Walker said. They weren’t really aware there was a problem. When the alarm sounded, they figured it was just an issue with the power being out.
According to Walker, everyone should have a carbon monoxide detector in their home. He noted that tying alarms to a monitoring company can be life-saving.
If the alarm goes off, you need to exit the home and use a cordless phone or your cell phone to call 911, Walker said.