The bodies of a 37-year-old father and his 7-year-old son were found inside a car Sunday afternoon parked in the garage of a Sunrise home, police said.
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Investigators found the body of Matthew Wheeler and his son, Dillon, in the garage of the home on Northwest 10th Street near 133rd Avenue. According to police, the garage was filled with carbon monoxide fumes.
Lt. Robert Voss of the Sunrise Police Department said rescue crews had to take precautions while tending to the victims.
"The fumes were so noxious they were afraid they'd be overcome by the fumes. So, I think they got in and pushed (the car) out real fast so they could start the medical treatment," Voss said.
Police said a suicide note was found in the house.
Investigators confirmed that Wheeler was a volunteer firefighter with the Plantation Fire Department and his son was disabled.
A girlfriend -- who lived in the home with the man, his son and her daughter -- was a firefighter and medic with the Tamarac Fire Department.
Authorities said it was the girlfriend who came home and noticed a strong odor. She tried to get into the garage herself but was unable to do so.
She then called police and firefighters, who arrived and had to force their way into the garage.
