Lucerne Valley, CA – LUCERNE VALLEY Authorities said two people died Thursday morning from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after a generator was found running in their garage.
San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez said that a woman drove an unconscious 23-year-old man from a home in the 37400 block of Laramie Street to the fire station on Highway 247 around 10 a.m. Firefighters found the man was unresponsive with no pulse, and they began CPR.
The man was taken to St. Joseph Health, St. Mary in Apple Valley, where he was later pronounced dead.
Moments later, authorities said dispatchers received a 911 call stating there was another person at the home on Laramie Street who was unresponsive. Firefighters arrived and found a 28-year-old man on the garage floor near a generator. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Using a carbon monoxide detector, firefighters found an extremely high amount of carbon monoxide inside the garage and home, Martinez said. The garage door had been opened, but the carbon monoxide levels remained high.
County Fire investigators and Sheriff’s deputies determined the carbon monoxide came from a running generator in the garage.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as wood, gasoline or propane are burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount produced is usually not hazardous.
County Fire encourages residents to purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors following the manufacturer’s instructions. Carbon monoxide detectors do not replace the need for smoke alarms.
Carbon monoxide around a generator and its exhaust tube can build up within minutes, even outdoors. Always run generators in a well-ventilated area, and only if you can vent its exhaust safely. Carbon monoxide can linger for hours, even after the generator is shut off.