Mineola Fire Chief Warns Residents of Carbon Monoxide Danger

Since January 1 the has responded to 60 calls, 26 of which have been general smoke detector alarms, three for brush/ trash fire, one vehicle extrication, 19 “miscellaneous calls” such as gas leaks and waterflow alarms and 11 of which have been carbon monoxide.

“The one we’re really concerned about and we want the residents to be reminded of is the (carbon monoxide) alarms, that they should continue to check those alarms in their homes,” Mineola Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Clark said in a report to the during their February 15 meeting at the . “If they don’t have one they should consider getting one and if the batteries are out, they should make sure that the batteries are functioning.”

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, orderless and tasteless gas which is harmful to humans and animals alike. The toxic gas can emanate from home appliances which burn fuel such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and other devices which rely on a form of gas in which to operate.

The chief stated that a carbon monoxide alarm should typically be changed every 5 years as they do have a finite lifespan.

“We have had a , issues with the (carbon monoxide) in the home and the residents have called us and we’ve come in and checked out the house and cleared out the situation and make sure they were safe,” Clark said of the department’s efforts. “So that’s really the number one issue at this point is to make sure that those alarms, smoke alarms and (carbon monoxide) alarms are working properly.”