Since carbon monoxide detectors are now required in every home, fire departments across the state are regularly answering calls for elevated levels of the odorless gas, proving to state officials that the new law has merit.
"It (means the law) is working," said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. "We're very pleased that it is."
Emergency calls for carbon monoxide across the state nearly doubled from 2005 to 2006, according to statistics compiled by the Department of Fire Services.
Since coming into effect in 2006, "Nicole's Law," named after Nicole Garofalo, 7, who died Jan. 28, 2005 of carbon monoxide poisoning in Plymouth, the owner of every residential building must install detectors on each habitable floor and within 10 feet of every bedroom. As of this year, all housing facilities owned by the state, which includes public housing, must have detectors.
Carbon monoxide builds up in homes where fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil, are used for heating. Over time, carbon monoxide causes dizziness, headaches, fatigue and, in some cases, death.
The detectors, said Coan, have saved lives.
Fire departments are answering calls before people are sickened or killed, Coan said.
Homeowners who do not install detectors will face penalties when they sell or transfer their houses. As of March 31, 2006, fire departments are required to inspect all homes for the detectors upon sales or transfers.
Although local fire departments have not seen the spike in calls reported statewide, firefighters are routinely responding to activated carbon monoxide detectors.
"Ninety percent of the time we have a problem it's from a heating unit malfunctioning," said Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo. Winter is typically the busiest time for carbon monoxide calls because homes are not well-ventilated and snow builds up around heating vents, he said.
"If your hot water heater or your heating system is vented to the outside and the snow is blocking the vent, the exhaust is coming into the house," said Cardillo. Homeowner should clear their vents while shoveling their driveways, he said.
The detectors are "pretty self-sufficient" and mostly require homeowners to only change the batteries, said Cardillo.
"Keep the batteries fresh. Change them when you (reset) the clocks," he said.
In Newton, Fire Prevention Lt. Robert Binnall said there has not been a dramatic increase in calls this year over last, "but we do get a decent amount of calls on them."
Like Waltham firefighters have found, the majority of calls are for carbon monoxide detectors that are going off because the batteries need to be changed or the home's heating unit is malfunctioning. But even the false calls are good, said Binnall, because it reminds homeowners of the potential of danger.
"Before, they didn't even know anything was in the house," Binnall said.
Staff writer Peter Reuell contributed to this story. Kerri Roche can be reached at kroche@cnc.com or 781-398-8009.
