Two children, ages 8 and 12, were found dead last Saturday in a Sumpter Township garage after a gas-powered generator was running inside. Emergency crews discovered the youngsters unresponsive and tried to resuscitate them, but those efforts failed. The loss has rattled the small Wayne County community and kicked off urgent warnings from local officials.
What Happened
According to CBS News Detroit, police and firefighters were called to a home on Executive Drive around 10:20 a.m. last Saturday. Inside the garage, they found a gas-powered generator running. Officials said the neighborhood had lost power after severe weather the day before, and the generator was being used during the outage.
Police Warning
The Sumpter Township Police Department called the case “a stark reminder of the dangers of carbon monoxide” and urged residents to treat generators with extreme caution. In guidance shared with the public, officers said people should never run a gas-powered generator inside a home, garage, basement, shed or any other enclosed space. They also advised residents to position generators “well away from doors, windows and vents” and to make sure homes are equipped with working carbon monoxide detectors, according to CBS News Detroit.
Why Carbon Monoxide Is Deadly
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can quickly incapacitate and kill. Many common household items can produce it, including gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because CO has no smell or color, detectors are the only reliable way to know when levels are building up inside a home.
Wider Pattern in Metro Detroit
The Sumpter Township tragedy is part of a troubling pattern of deadly carbon-monoxide incidents across Metro Detroit. Autopsies in March 2025 found that two Detroit children who were living in a van died from carbon monoxide, the Associated Press reported. In that Greektown garage case, Wayne County prosecutors later announced on Jan. 28, 2026, that they would not file charges, Fox 2 Detroit reported. And yesterday, a separate generator-related death in Melvindale was reported on Hoodline.
How to Stay Safe
Public health guidance is blunt: portable generators must be used outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and never in basements, garages or any enclosed or partially enclosed space. The CDC also recommends installing and regularly testing carbon monoxide detectors on every level of a home, with battery or battery-backup units placed near sleeping areas. Locally, the Belleville Independent reported that Sumpter Township’s fire department used grant money in recent months to install dozens of smoke and CO detectors in the community.
Authorities have offered condolences to the family as the township grieves, and officials say the children’s deaths underline just how crucial it is to follow generator-safety rules and stay on top of detector checks.
