Carbon Monoxide Close Call for NH Family
April 02 — THORNTON, NH — Six people were rushed to the hospital Sunday morning after being overcome by carbon monoxide, fire officials said.
Keith Rodenhiser, a deputy state fire marshal and chief of the bureau of investigations in the Division of Fire Safety, said all six were treated for carbon monoxide exposure and released from Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth.
Thornton is a town of about 2,500 north of Plymouth.
New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan said the call to 18 Treeline Road came in around 5 a.m. after someone inside the home woke to an alert from a carbon monoxide detector and called 911 before being overcome by the gas.
“It appears to be a very close call for the family,” Degnan said. “Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and having a working detector most likely saved their lives.”
A New Hampshire State Police trooper who was first to arrive and crews from Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue began treatment at the scene after finding three adults and three children in distress.
Names of the people who were treated were not released Sunday.
“We are still looking into all the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” Rodenhiser said.
Degnan said carbon monoxide is sometimes known as the “silent killer” and is extremely dangerous.
“It’s a possibility for anybody,” Degnan said. “That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your detectors are working and that you check them regularly.”
