Nine Houston residents sent to hospitals after carbon monoxide exposure

WASILLA — A faulty carbon monoxide detector is believed to be a key factor that sent nine Houston residents to area hospitals Monday night suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a fire department official.

Houston Fire Chief Christian Hartley said the department received a call around 9:45 p.m. Monday from a Corn Street resident who told dispatchers there was an unconscious person who couldn't be awakened inside the house.

"It ended up being a mass-casualty event. We had one person air-lifted to Anchorage by LifeMed and eight taken by ground to Mat-Su Regional (Medical Center)," Hartley said. "Two patients were borderline critical, two were serious and five received moderate poisoning."

Hartley said the cause of the poisoning was a portable generator. The unit had been running outside but was moved indoors and operated without proper ventilation. Hartley said the occupants were running heaters off the unit and thought they were safe because a CO detector was in the residence.

"The detector was not functioning," Hartley said. He said at this point, he wasn't sure if it was due to a battery issue or if the unit just needed to be replaced. "Detectors don't last forever. You should check your detector battery at least once a month. Detectors need to be replaced every 10 years. Even the ones that are hard-wired."

Hartley said if a homeowner or renter doesn't have the detector's owner's manual, they should replace the unit. Detectors can be cleaned periodically with canned air. Hartley said that doesn't mean the unit shouldn't be replaced at proper intervals.

"Don't use Windex or any kind of aerosol. They can cover up the sensor," Hartley said. "Use only the canned air that you buy for cleaning electrical items."

Hartley said despite the severity of exposure, everyone involved is expected to survive. Five ambulances — one each from Palmer, West Lakes and Willow along with two from Central Mat-Su — responded to the scene. He said two EMS administrators and one paramedic supervisor were needed to help oversee operations.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com