Canton Fire training chief urges residents to check detectors, warns of carbon monoxide risks

Training Chief Sean Skelly of the Canton Fire Department delivered a brief public-safety presentation stressing steps residents can take to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. "Carbon monoxide is often called the silent killer because you can't see it, smell it, or taste it," Skelly said.

Skelly told listeners to install carbon monoxide detectors centrally outside sleeping areas and on every level of a home, and to interconnect alarms "if possible" so one alarm alerts the whole household. He advised testing detectors monthly and changing batteries twice a year. The chief also said to "replace the entire unit after 10," a phrasing in the presentation that did not specify whether he meant 10 years or another unit of time.

Skelly also covered smoke alarm placement, recommending alarms inside every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on each level. Turning to seasonal hazards, he warned that "heavy snow can block furnaces, water heaters, and dryer vents, causing dangerous CO buildup," and urged residents to clear snow from appliance vents. He concluded with a generator safety warning: "Never run generators in the garage or near windows."

The remarks were informational guidance from the fire department; no formal action or policy vote followed. The presentation focused on household prevention measures and winter-specific risks that can increase carbon monoxide exposure inside homes.