09/05/2026
A happy story and a word of warning: A resident in Silverthorne's Smith Ranch had an offhand conversation with our community risk-reduction coordinator, complaining that the smoke/carbon-monoxide detectors in her home went off every time she turned on her oven. A Summit Fire & EMS engine crew went over and found that, yes, it was generating significant amounts of CO, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly.
A plumber was called out and found that the gas line had never been properly adjusted. Gas appliances — including ovens and cooktops — often need to be adjusted for elevation if you live above 2,000 feet. At higher elevations, the air is thinner and contains less oxygen. Because appliances are factory-calibrated for sea-level conditions, an unadjusted oven will receive too much gas relative to the available oxygen. This causes incomplete combustion, which lowers heating efficiency and significantly increases the risk of producing toxic carbon monoxide.
Fortunately, the problem was corrected, and the alarms have stopped. Let this be a lesson to all of us to make sure we have working CO detectors along with smoke detectors (you can find them combined or separate), and to pay attention to what they're telling us. The proper response to any alarm is to get yourself and everyone out of the building and to call 9-1-1. We'll check it out to ensure your safety.
