Ronald Searight was discovered unconscious in the family home and could not be revived. Firefighters found a reading of more than 900 parts per million (ppm) of CO near the home's boiler. They recorded between 300 and 500 ppm in the living room and top floor.
In a story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a fire department spokeswoman said those levels are "extremely high." She said the likely source of the gas was the home's natural gas-fired boiler.
Officials noted the importance of having CO detectors in the home and placing them in the proper location.
Publication date: 11/15/2004