Montvale urgers residents to check carbon monoxide detectors after deadly incident
Two residents died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at a home on Lexington Lane.
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Days after two residents died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at a home on Lexington Lane, Montvale officials are urging everyone to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working.
Mayor Mike Ghassali is encouraging residents to test their detectors and replace the batteries if needed and make sure every home is properly protected.
Through the Montvale Mayor Charity Fund, the borough is offering free carbon monoxide detectors and batteries to any Montvale resident who needs them. Officials say the items are available for pickup at Borough Hall, and they can also be delivered to residents who are unable to pick them up.
RELATED: 2 people in their 80s dead of suspected carbon monoxide exposure
“It’s a silent killer,” officials said, reminding residents that carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that cannot be detected without a working alarm.
Montvale Fire Chief Geoffrey Gibbons said carbon monoxide is produced by appliances and equipment that burn fossil fuels, including furnaces, water heaters and cars.
The chief recommends installing a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of bedroom doors, but not inside a boiler or furnace room because those areas can produce false alarms over time.
Fire officials also recommend testing detectors once a month and replacing the batteries twice a year. Residents should also pay attention to the detector’s warning beeps, which can indicate either a malfunction or that the device has reached the end of its lifespan.
According to the fire chief, the department responds to about 35 to 50 carbon monoxide calls each year. While most turn out to be false alarms, some have involved dangerous levels of the gas.
“If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get out of the house and call 911,” the chief said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Officials hope the reminder encourages residents to take a few minutes to check their homes.
“Don’t ever say, ‘It will never happen to me,’” Mayor Ghassali said.
