Carbon monoxide kills 3 in Minneapolis

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

Carbon monoxide poisoning killed three people in this house on Girard Ave. N. in Minneapolis Thursday night

Two men and a boy found in a north Minneapolis house apparently were overcome by fumes from a gas generator.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: October 3, 2008 - 1:34 AM

Two men and a 14-year-old boy died Thursday when they were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from a gas generator they were using inside a north Minneapolis home, police said.

Firefighters responded to the home about 6:30 p.m. Thursday after being called with reports that several people were inside the home unconscious. When they arrived, they found two men and a boy, the son of one of the men, said Minneapolis police spokesman Jesse Garcia. A gas-powered generator was running in the basement of the house, where the electricity and gas had been turned off in the past couple days, Garcia said.

Efforts to revive the victims were unsuccessful. The two men died at the scene. The boy was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Friends of the victims identified them as Harold Barnett, his 14-year-old son Terrell Barnett and their friend Raymond Carr.

Harold Barnett, 44, had moved into the house, a white rambler on the corner of Girard and 17th Avenues N., a few months ago, said his longtime friend John Baker. Though Barnett was having financial difficulties, he had tried to put the gas and electricity accounts in his name so they could stay hooked up, but after they were shut off he had to resort to using the generator, Baker said.

Minneapolis police and firefighters worked Thursday night to clear the house of the deadly fumes, which stayed at high levels for several hours. Neighbors and family members gathered at the corner, at one point making a large prayer circle that stretched across the street.

Ruth Berry, another longtime friend of Barnett, said her grandchildren called him "Papa." He had "too much love," she said. Terrell liked to play video games and was always being silly, "laughing like a hyena," she said.

City Council Member Don Samuels, who represents the North Side, came to the street corner to find out what had caused the deadly accident. He stressed that there is help available for families who can't afford to heat their homes.

"People must get some other kind of help," he said. "The community could have gotten together and done something."

With cold come risks

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning always goes up this time of year as people turn on furnaces or resort to other ways to keep warm. Gas generators should never be used inside a structure, authorities cautioned.

Colorless, odorless carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned. It can reach hazardous levels when appliances are used inappropriately, don't have adequate ventilation or are not functioning properly.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen within minutes and is responsible for more deaths than any other poison. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea and fatigue and sometimes are mistaken for the flu.

Under a Minnesota law that went into effect this summer, all houses are required to have carbon monoxide detectors. The alarms sound when carbon monoxide reaches a life-threatening level.

Carbon monoxide alarms have been required in all new homes and apartments since January 2007. Beginning in August 2009, they also will be mandatory in all apartments and multifamily dwellings.

Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628 Staff writer Mary Lynn Smith contributed to this report.

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