Public safety officials warn that carbon monoxide poisoning is a major danger when using gas-powered generators during power outages, advising generators to be placed outdoors away from doors, windows, vents, and enclosed spaces.

Chief Hunter advocates for detectors outside sleeping areas and in basements, with monthly tests to ensure they function correctly.

Three CO poisonings tied to indoor generator use during outages have killed an 8-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a 16-year-old in Michigan communities of Sumpter Township and Melvindale.

The fatalities come as severe weather prompts reliance on generators during outages, highlighting ongoing risks during storms.

Officials remind that CO is colorless and odorless; symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea, and the importance of functioning detectors to identify exposure.

Fire and police remind the public that detectors are crucial, and emphasize proper placement and installation of CO detectors in homes.

Detroit Fire Department emphasizes generators are safe when used properly, but placing them inside garages, basements, or homes can cause rapid CO buildup and deadly exposure.

Fire Prevention Chief Dennis Hunter urges outdoor use with at least 20 feet distance from the home and directing exhaust away from living areas to prevent CO from entering interiors.

Two children, ages 8 and 12, were found unresponsive in a garage in Sumpter Township after a generator was running, and they died at the scene.

The incidents occurred amid major power outages affecting hundreds of thousands in southeast Michigan after Friday storms, with more than 500,000 without power and over 80,000 still without power as of Monday morning.

Investigation into the two deaths is ongoing, with officials urging residents to exercise caution with generator use.

A portable gas-powered generator had been running in a garage following a Friday power outage.