FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) – A kitten is being credited with saving its family from a potentially deadly carbon monoxide scare in Farmington Hills last month.
Officials with the Farmington Hills Fire Department said Wednesday fire crews, aided by a four-month old kitten named Thor, rescued the Stamper family from their home back on Aug. 30.
The Stamper Family was using a generator to run their appliances as their neighborhood was experiencing a power outage after a summer storm, according to the fire department.
Officials say the garage door accidentally got closed while the generator was running, exposing the family to deadly carbon monoxide gas.
The family was sleeping that night when Thor woke Heidi Stamper with a screeching cry, fire officials said. When she woke up, she noticed the cat was visibly sick and took him outside, while her husband Ronald, daughter Paige and son Quinn remained asleep.
But after seeing his condition had improved while outside, she brought him back in and soon lost consciousness herself.
Officials say that’s when Thor began screeching again, this time alerting 13-year-old Paige and 11-year-old Quinn, who were then able to get their semi- conscious parents out of the house.
The Farmington Hills Fire Department soon arrived and took the family to Beaumont Farmington Hills. Needing specialized care for carbon monoxide poisoning, Heidi and the children were flown to Promedica Hospital in Toledo, according to the fire department.
Thankfully, the whole family survived, and Thor is being hailed as a hero and credited with saving their lives.
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The family is now sharing their experience and helping the fire department spread the word that portable generators should only be used outside and must be placed far away and downwind from windows, doors and vents.
“The fire department reminds everyone that generators should NEVER be used inside homes, garages, basements, sheds or any other enclosed or partially enclosed spaces,” said Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh, per a press release. “In this case, using a portable generator in an enclosed garage almost had deadly consequences.”
Carbon monoxide is tasteless, colorless, odorless, and impossible for human senses to detect. It builds up quickly and lingers for hours, even after sources of the gas are turned off.
“This is a frightening example of how carbon monoxide can accumulate quickly and potentially be fatal,” Unruh said. “Fortunately, this incident had a positive ending, but we hope all families will learn from the Stampers and keep their generators outside.”
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The department says at the time of the incident, the Stampers’ home didn’t have any carbon monoxide detectors, but they’ve since installed multiple CO alarms, as have their neighbors.
Fire officials said if any residents need help with purchasing or installing a carbon monoxide alarm, they should contact the Farmington Hills Fire Department at 248-871-2800.
Family friends have organized a GoFundMe page to help the Stampers with medical expenses. The page details continued health concrens the family, and their pets, are experiencing in the wake of the incident.