The Airdrie Fire Department has released details about their response to yesterday's (February 4) deadly carbon monoxide (CO) incident in Willowbrook.

According to a release issued this afternoon, the department responded to the call and when they entered the apartment building, they detected high CO levels, posing a serious health risk to occupants. The building was evacuated, and crews conducted a floor to floor search of the building.

Upon entering an apartment on the main floor, firefighters found CO readings that were more than 2100 parts per million. All gas appliances in the apartment were shut down, as fire crews looked to control the CO. Crews then ventilated the building.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel, the apartment building was not required to have CO detectors because it was built before they were required.

"When that building was constructed, it wasn't a requirement by the code of the day to have carbon monoxide detection. It's the responsibility of all of us, as individual homeowners or residents, to ensure we have that protection in place for ourselves and our families."

Any building project that goes up today is required under the updated Building and Fire Codes to have a smoke detector and CO monitor installed. Once residents of the apartment complex were able to return, the Fire Department and the City of Airdrie gifted residents with CO detectors to install in their units.

Rabel admits that it's unfortunate that an incident like this is prompting the Fire Department to remind the public to make sure they have smoke and CO detectors installed.

"Our thoughts and prayers definitely go out to the family and friends of this young man. It is a horrific incident that occurred. We just need people to be very cautious and careful, put all those mechanisms in place and look out for ourselves."

Rabel said the Fire Department along with the City of Airdrie, ATCO and the RCMP are still investigating the source of the CO.

 

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