News Flash

January 7, 2018 - 1110 Yampa Street, Waterside Apartments

Alarm Type: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and PSA

Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue (SSFR) was dispatched by the Routt County Communication Center (RCCC) to 1110 Yampa Street for the report of an unresponsive elderly female. Upon arrival on scene SSFR personnel found an elderly female on the street unresponsive being attended to by personnel from Atmos Energy and Central Park Management (CPM). Atmos Energy and CPM had rescued the unresponsive female from her residence in the course of trying to determine the origin of Carbon Monoxide at the apartment complex. The female patient was rapidly transported to UC Health Yampa Valley Medical Center in critical condition.

All individuals who had not answered the previous attempts to evacuate by Atmos Energy and CPM personnel were woken up and evacuated from their residence due to high levels of CO in numerous residences. All residents and guests staying at the complex were moved to a Steamboat Springs Transit bus to keep warm while SSFR, Atmos Energy, and CPM systematically searched the complex for a cause of elevated carbon monoxide. The source of the carbon monoxide in the building was eventually determined to have been due to a vehicle that had been left running for an extended period of time. The cause determination was delayed as the vehicle had been shut off prior to the arrival of fire personnel.

During the six hour investigation of the building it was determined that not all of the residences and businesses had carbon monoxide alarms. Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue encourages individuals to install and maintain Carbon Monoxide alarms in all living quarters and residences. SSFR would also like to remind landlords that working Carbon Monoxide detectors are required by Colorado House Bill 09-1091 to be in all rental units and those units must be within 15 feet of any sleeping unit.

SSFR would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance in a difficult call: SSPD, Atmos Energy, CPM, Routt County Dispatch and Steamboat Springs Transit. For further questions contact Captain Travis Wilkinson 970-879-7170

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