Overview
- Police and fire crews found two girls, ages 8 and 12, unresponsive in a garage on Executive Drive after a portable gas generator ran during a power outage, and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
- The deaths occurred on Saturday during widespread outages caused by Friday storms, and authorities confirmed the generator was operating inside the enclosed garage when first responders arrived.
- Detroit fire officials said there were at least three carbon monoxide deaths across southeast Michigan that weekend, including a separate case where a 16-year-old was found in a basement where a generator had been used and Child Protective Services is involved.
- Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning fuel that can build up quickly in enclosed spaces so officials advise running generators outdoors at least 20 feet from structures with exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents and keeping generators well maintained.
- Fire departments and state programs are amplifying outreach and offering free CO detector installation, and officials stress installing working CO alarms on every level and near sleeping areas to give families early warning.