Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman wish to recognize a local Eversource Energy employee who alerted first responders to a carbon monoxide incident on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Following a rain and windstorm that caused widespread damage and power outages in eastern Massachusetts, Eversource employee Ed Gonet was working as a damage assessor when he noticed a generator running at a Front Street home that had power.
Gonet smelled fumes and saw a cord running into the home through an open door. Feeling that something wasn’t right, he called 911.
Marion firefighters arrived at 9:21 pm and found the occupant was sleeping upstairs. Firefighters measured low levels of carbon monoxide inside the home and determined there was a potential for levels to rise during the night. The generator was shut down and windows and doors were opened to vent the home.
The resident was evaluated at the scene and declined transport to an area hospital.
“We are thankful that Mr. Gonet was in the right place at the right time this week and reacted quickly when he felt something wasn’t right,” Chief Jackvony said. “His actions ensured we could respond to and resolve a carbon monoxide incident before it became a tragedy.”
Added Town Administrator Gorman, “We are grateful for our partnership with Eversource Energy and thank all of their team members, including Mr. Gonet, who work diligently during weather events to evaluate outages and ensure power is restored for our residents quickly and safely.”
Community members are reminded that a generator should always be placed outdoors facing away from doors, windows and vents. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and learn how to use a generator safely before an outage. Carbon monoxide alarms should also be installed on every level of the home and tested regularly. If a CO alarm goes off or you suspect CO exposure, get out of the house to get fresh air and immediately call 911.