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Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms are Essential Safety Tools

January 11, 2024 • 10 months ago

Did you know that Cambridge fire companies responded to more than 530 carbon monoxide alarm activations in 2023? Of these responses, 83 proved to be actual CO contamination in the building.

Causes of the carbon monoxide included vehicles left idling in a garage or near buildings, power washers, generators, floor cleaners, as well as malfunctioning or improperly vented cooking or heating units. All incidents were resolved safely.

Ensure that your CO alarms are working properly. If your detector goes into alarm, call 911 from a safe area. The Emergency Communications Center staff will immediately dispatch a fire company to sample the air with a meter (shown below). If residents report carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, the response will be upgraded and will include paramedics.