Carbon monoxide emergencies prompt 'hyperawareness'
<p>John Inman holds a cable used to pull tree debris from his neighbor's home on Friday on Lacey Avenue in Hayden.</p>
<p>Ten workers from Edward Smith Construction repair the corrugated steel roof of John and Joy Richard's horse barn in Hayden on Friday. The roof was badly damaged in Tuesday's wind storm, and the majority of it has to be completely replaced.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Emergency responders said they have received an alarming number of calls about carbon monoxide poisoning from heating or cooking without power after Tuesday's windstorm.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue has responded to four homes since the storm, Coeur d'Alene Fire three homes and Northern Lakes Fire two.
"KCFR is responding to all calls with a hyperawareness to the potential for (carbon monoxide) in the environment and potentially in the individuals," said Steven Isaacson, a KCFR division chief.
In some of the cases, including one of Northern Lakes' calls in the Hayden area, the residents were so nauseated that they needed to be transported to Kootenai Health for treatment.
"They had the generator running too close to the window and the exhaust fumes were going through the window and into the house," said Tyler Drechsel, a spokesman for Northern Lakes.
During the other call, a generator was in the garage, Drechsel said.
Glenn Lauper, Coeur d'Alene's deputy fire chief, said responders are bracing for more such calls as about 10,000 Kootenai County homes remained without power on Friday afternoon with more freezing temperatures predicted.
"As long as people are without power, they're going to find alternative ways to heat," he said.
Isaacson said residents are urged to use carbon monoxide detectors and reminded to change the batteries to keep them active.
Drechsel said there should be 3 to 4 feet of clear space around generators, heaters and cooking devices for ventilation and reduction of fire risk. Never use a generator or non-approved heating or cooking device indoors or in enclosed spaces such as garages, crawl spaces or basements.
Meanwhile, the county and American Red Cross on Friday decided to keep an emergency shelter at Coeur d'Alene Bible Church open at least through today.
"The weather has turned colder and, because children are not in school (over the weekend), it was decided that the shelter should stay open at least one more day," said Sally Stuber, government liaison for the American Red Cross, adding the situation will be re-evaluated today.
"The church has been extremely gracious to allow us to set up, use its facility and reschedule its programs," Stuber said.
No one stayed at the shelter on Thursday night and, as of early Friday afternoon, three people had utilized its services. Therefore, most of those without power have made do in their homes, with friends or relatives or in motels.
The shelter offers a heated building, cots and blankets, power, light snacks and showers at Coeur d'Alene High across Fourth Street. Those who utilize the facility are urged to bring their own toiletries and towels.