El Paso firefighters are sounding the alarm over a spike in carbon monoxide incidents, urging residents to double-check their CO detectors and heating systems as cold weather lingers. Crews say poor ventilation and incomplete combustion from furnaces, stoves, and portable generators are showing up again and again on calls. If a leak hits while people are asleep, what feels like vague, flu-like discomfort can quietly escalate into a life-threatening emergency.
What El Paso Fire Told Reporters
According to KVIA, Lt. Juan Acuña said the department has already handled 74 carbon monoxide-related incidents this season, with 34 confirmed as actual CO exposures. "You should always leave a window a little bit open, especially close by your furnace," Acuña told reporters, adding that homeowners should place detectors near furnaces or stoves. Fire officials also pointed to space heaters, especially those left running overnight, as frequent culprits in dangerous CO buildup.
Why Cold Weather Raises The Risk
Carbon monoxide forms when fuel does not burn completely, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and portable generators can all produce hazardous concentrations if they are malfunctioning or used in poorly ventilated spaces. The commission notes that most CO deaths occur during the colder months and urges people never to run generators or grills indoors or right next to open windows and doors. Routine furnace inspections and keeping vents clear help lower the chance of incomplete combustion turning into a serious hazard.
Symptoms To Watch For
Carbon monoxide poisoning often starts quietly, with non-specific, flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and weakness. It can then progress to confusion, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or death, according to the CDC. Because those signs can look a lot like other winter illnesses, the CDC advises considering CO exposure when several people in the same home get sick or when symptoms ease up after leaving the building. If you suspect CO poisoning, health officials say to seek medical care right away.
Detectors, Batteries And Replacement
Many newer carbon monoxide alarms come with sealed lithium batteries and are typically rated to last about 10 years. The CPSC recommends checking whether your alarm has a sealed 10-year battery and replacing the entire unit when it reaches the end of its service life. Test alarms every month and swap out batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and mark down expiration dates so you know when it is time for a new unit. If your home does not have a CO detector at all, safety officials say to install at least one on every level of the house and outside sleeping areas.
Where To Put Your Alarm
In the field, Acuña has advised residents to place detectors near furnaces and stoves, where problems often start. National guidance, though, stresses following code and device instructions, which generally call for CO alarms on every level of the home and outside bedrooms. Mounting height can vary from model to model and from house to house, since state emergency preparedness guidance and NFPA standards point out that carbon monoxide mixes with room air, and placement depends on the unit and the layout. The bottom line: follow the manufacturer’s directions and local building code, and when you are unsure, have fuel-burning appliances inspected by a licensed technician before winter sets in.
If Your Alarm Sounds
If a CO alarm goes off or people start feeling ill, the CDC advises getting everyone outside to fresh air immediately and calling 911. Do not go back inside until firefighters or utility technicians say it is safe, and seek medical evaluation for anyone who has symptoms. Emergency crews can check carbon monoxide levels, ventilate the building, and track down the source of the leak.
With the cold hanging on, El Paso Fire officials are urging households to test their alarms, schedule furnace checkups, and keep ventilation in mind whenever heaters and fuel-burning appliances are running. A working detector is the only reliable way to know if this odorless gas is in your home, and firefighters say a few simple steps taken now can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
