Outdoor heater warning after carbon monoxide incident - Merrylands
Published: 19 Jul 2022 09:18am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is warning the public not to bring outdoor cookers and heaters indoors following a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning incident this morning in Sydney's west.
Six people, two children and four adults, were taken to hospital for treatment around 4.45am after bringing a charcoal cooker inside a granny flat on their property in Myall Street, Merrylands.
Firefighters rushed to the home along with NSW Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics and ensured the area was safe.
Outdoor cookers and heaters, particularly those with charcoal beads, give off poisonous Carbon Monoxide gas and should never be used inside homes.
CO is a colourless and odourless gas that can build up in rooms and overwhelm people without warning.
FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said, "Whilst we understand the family and their guests were trying to stay warm during winter and thought bringing the makeshift heating device inside was a good idea, it unwittingly put lives at risk.
"In this case, tragedy was narrowly avoided.
"One of the occupants woke up feeling ill and roused the rest of the household from its sleep.
"Never bring outdoor heaters or cookers inside and never rely on charcoal beads for heating in confined spaces.
"Families can contact their local FRNSW station and book a Winter Home Safety visit for further advice.
"Firefighters can visit your home and provide you with crucial safety information such as avoiding the use of outdoor cookers and heaters inside your home."
This winter, keep you and your loved ones safe by using the Get Ready for Winter checklist.
Media Note: a video assessment of the incident is available via this link:
https://vimeo.com/731176819/172b15fd3e [external link]
Updated: 30 Jan 2023 09:14pm
Related safety topics
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
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Learn how to prevent fires from heaters and open fires.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
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Stations nearby
340 Merrylands Road, Merrylands NSW 2160
263 Guildford Road, Guildford NSW 2161
110-114 Wigram Street, Harris Park (Parramatta) NSW 2150