Firefighters rescue North Las Vegas family from carbon monoxide leak

By Mary Manning

Friday, Feb. 15, 2008 | 11:32 a.m.

Firefighters rescued a North Las Vegas family of five after potentially deadly carbon monoxide from two gas heaters backed up into their home early this morning.

Capt. Cedric Williams, North Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman, said firefighters arrived at 2403 Stanley Ave. at 1:47 a.m. today after receiving a call from the father who was disoriented and said that the family was sick.

"They are lucky to be alive," Williams said of the family of two adults and three children. The North Las Vegas Fire Department did not release the family's identity.

Firefighters found the home's doors locked, but heard a family member crying out and disoriented, Williams said.

Firefighters forced their way into the house and found the family who was unconscious, Williams said.

The family was taken to a local hospital. "They definitely have improved since earlier this morning," Williams said.

Firefighters using a carbon monoxide detector found that there was more than 900 parts per million of the odorless, deadly gas in the house.

Anything over 400 parts per million can cause unconsciousness, brain damage and death, depending on how long individuals are exposed to the gas, Williams said.

Fire investigators found that dual wall mounted gas heaters sharing a common vent to the outside protruded through the roof. The vent was bent with heavy roofing paper covering it, which caused the home to fill with the colorless, odorless gas, Williams said.

High winds Wednesday and Thursday are suspected of causing the roofing paper to block the vent, Williams said, but the investigation is still continuing.