Fire chief warns of danger of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Charlene Sims, Journal staff
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Charlene Sims
MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners received reports from the ambulance and fire department services on Monday, Dec. 15.
Linn County Fire Chief Randy Hegwald took the opportunity to remind the commision and residents about the dangers associated with the return of lower temperatures.
“With cold weather, I know there have been some instances in the county with carbon monoxide and extension cords,” he said. “So just urging everybody with colder weather to check their furnaces, their heaters, their extension cords and portable heaters.
“If we can prevent the fire it’s better than having a fire. So just urge everybody to check that carbon monoxide. It’s silent. They call it the silent killer. You can’t smell it. You don’t notice it. It can sneak up on you. So, if you house is heated by natural gas of any kind, please get a carbon monoxide detector.”
Hegwald reported that there were 17 total calls for the past week, which brings the yearly total up to 573 calls.
Hegwald said that it had been a busy week. He said out of those 17 calls, the fire department was requested to assist in a blaze in Amsterdam for a structure fire and then for a structure fire in Fort Scott this weekend.
Hegwald said that the executive session that was scheduled as a carry over from last week for trade secrets about the storm sirens could be postponed until later.
American Medical Response (AMR) operations manager Dawn Brooks gave the report from Dec. 1 through Dec. 14 which showed there had been a total of 60 calls resulting in 21 transports. The average response time is 17 minutes 26 seconds. The calls by city were:
• Blue Mound, 9 calls, 4 transports
• Centerville, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Fulton, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Greeley, 0 calls, 0 transports
• La Cygne, 14 calls, 3 transports
• Fontana, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Lane, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Linn Valley, 8 calls, 3 transports
• Mapleton, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Rich Hill, 0 calls, 0 transports
• Mound City, 8 calls, 5 transports
• Parker, 5 calls, 0 transports
• Pleasanton 13 calls, 5 transports
• Prescott, 3 calls, 1 transport
Response numbers and times for this time period by Commission Districts are:
District 1 - 22 responses, 7 transports, 13 minutes 31 seconds average response time
District 2 – 17 responses, 6 transports, 12 minutes 8 seconds average response time
District 3 – 21 responses, 8 transports, 25 minutes 50 seconds average response time