MOSES LAKE - With winter arriving, Grant County Emergency Management reminds people about the hazards of fuel-powered appliances and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they also can be hazardous, according to GCEM spokesman Kyle Foreman.

The primary hazard to avoid when using a generator is carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel.

In 2007, three Royal City children died and two were sickened due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator running inside a home. In June 2009, two Kahlotus brothers died after being overcome in a cistern by carbon monoxide from a gas-powered pump.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous and odorless gas. It cannot be seen or smelled and, it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.

Never use gasoline powered equipment indoors, Foreman said. It can be difficult to determine how much ventilation is adequate, therefore, always use this kind of equipment outdoors.

Never operate or burn charcoal inside homes, tents, campers, vans, trucks, garages, or mobile homes, Foreman said. Do not burn charcoal in the fireplace in your home.

Foreman added:

* Never use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.

* Never idle a car in a garage, even when the garage door is open.

* Never sleep in a room while using an unvented gas or kerosene heater.

* Make sure that chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked.

* Have oil and gas appliances and fireplaces as well as wood stoves checked every year by a trained professional.

* Carbon monoxide warning devices may provide additional protection, but should not replace the other prevention steps.

For more information on life safety and emergency preparedness, visit the Grant County Emergency Management web site at www.co.grant.wa.us/EM .