In an interview with News Director Geoff Harris on WCHE 1520 Radio and WCHE1520.com, East Whiteland Fire Company member Randy Cockerham said the fire department responded to a residential location for a carbon monoxide alarm on Wednesday night. The family inside the home immediately moved outside and called 9-1-1, once the alarm sounded. When East Whiteland Fire Company arrived at the home, firefighters with air packs and gas detector meters entered the home and found an active level of carbon monoxide inside that residence. Firefighters turned the heating system off, put fans in service for ventilation, and remained on the scene for about an hour and a half to ensure the home was clear of carbon monoxide. The family notified their heating contractor and made plans to stay at another location. Cockerham said that both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms really do save lives and urged residents to have both, citing the tragedy in 1983 when a family of five died in a house fire because the smoke alarm battery had been removed. Carbon monoxide is the result of the incomplete burning of fuel and can be found in home heating systems, vehicles, generators, water heater, stoves, the fire place, and portable kerosene heaters. A person can become ill from a small amount of carbon monoxide over a long time, or a large amount over a short time, possibly resulting in death. Six people died from carbon monoxide poisoning during the recent blizzard. When the carbon monoxide or smoke alarms sound, the fire department recommends getting everyone out of the house to the outside, and call 9-1-1. We thank WCHE Radio for the opportunity to promote this very important safety concern. For additional carbon monoxide and fire safety information, please visit www.nfpa.org.