Firefighters respond to 80 calls for carbon monoxide following heavy snow in Ottawa

An Ottawa firefighter plows snow near furnace vents at a home on Feb. 17, 2025. (Ottawa Fire Services)

The Ottawa Fire Services is urging residents to shovel out the exhausts and vents around their homes following this weekend’s heavy snow, after firefighters responded to dozens of calls involving high carbon monoxide (CO) levels inside homes.

Firefighters have received 80 calls related to carbon monoxide and natural gas odours since Friday, with the calls linked to snow-covered furnaces and hot water vents.

“We had crews throughout the night last night shovelling out vents at most of the calls they went to, as well as helping neighbours,” Dan Kirvan, Chief of Special Operations with the Ottawa Fire Services, told CTV News Ottawa Monday afternoon.

“The problem here is that the vents are often close to the ground and it’s critical that the furnaces are able to let their exhaust out. When there is snow really close or blocking them, CO comes back into the house.”

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Ottawa received 69 cm of snow between Wednesday and Sunday.

“Please be vigilant and take the time to go outside to check & please test your carbon monoxide alarms,” Ottawa fire said on X.

There were no injuries reported.

Kirvan said it’s “fairly critical” that residents clear out the snow around vents and gas meters.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can be fatal at high levels.

“The symptoms of CO are headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, you’re generally feeling weak or tired,” Kirvan said.

“So, it’s very critical that if we’re starting to experience some of these systems, we get outside, we phone 9-1-1 and the fire service will come and assist you.”

The Ottawa Fire Services reminds people to have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.