Port Alberni firefighters were called to a home for carbon monoxide detection on Thursday evening.
“The homeowners had been doing a bit of cooking,” said Port Alberni fire Chief Kelly Gilday. He said the residents stepped out of the house for a little while, and returned to find one of their alarms going off. They called the fire department, who checked out the area and found excessive carbon monoxide readings.
The homeowners had been out of the house for quite some time, and showed no symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Firefighters also discovered that the batteries to one of the home’s carbon monoxide detectors had been removed.
“Whenever your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms go off, do not ignore them,” said Gilday. “It’s even more critical when it comes to the carbon monoxide alarms because it’s an odourless gas. It can turn deadly very fast. Call us and let us check it out.”
Gilday said he is not sure what exactly caused the buildup of gas.
Firefighters ventilated the house, and the homeowners were able to return unharmed.
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com