Carbon monoxide alarm credited with saving family's life

TEMPLE - Firefighters are crediting a carbon monoxide alarm with saving a Temple family's life Wednesday.

Temple Fire & Rescue were called to a home in South Temple Wednesday, October 29, shortly after 7:30 p.m., after a carbon monoxide alarm went off. Responding units found the family of five safely outside their home.

Fire officials say the family had used their gas range earlier in the day to prepare dinner. About an hour later, the alarm activated, and the family immediately went outside and called 911.

Firefighters noticed increased levels of carbon monoxide while monitoring the area, and found the source of the gas was the faulty natural gas range in the kitchen.

After turning the range off and ventilating the house, fire crews later detected zero levels of the gas.

Temple Fire & Rescue, along with other safety organizations, offer the following tips to keep your family safe:

Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) indoors. Although these heaters don't have a flame, they burn gas and can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.

Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

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Carbon monoxide alarm credited with saving family's life