A FAMILY was saved from a carbon monoxide leak thanks to a detector in their home.
Fire crews discovered the deadly gas in the boiler, which was then spread around the house in Cox Lane, Chipping Norton, by the ventilation system.
The alarm had detected the odourless, colourless gas and the family escaped safely.
Last night fire chiefs said the incident on Thursday<<Jan 6>> evening showed the importance of having alarms installed.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Rob MacDougall said: “ If this family had not installed the detector we could have been looking at a very tragic incident.
“A working, tested, smoke alarm should be fitted in every home but they will not detect carbon monoxide, so the additional measure of a carbon monoxide alarm is highly recommended and in this case was life saving.”
When inhaled, carbon monoxide affects the body’s red blood cells and can be fatal.
One crew from Chipping Norton attended the leak shortly after 8.50pm.
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