Furnace failure causes CO scare at Ottawa townhouse

An Ottawa Fire Services investigation vehicle at the scene of a fire. (CTV News Ottawa)

A malfunctioning furnace caused a carbon monoxide scare at a townhouse in Ottawa’s west end.

The Ottawa Fire Services says a resident of a home on Briggs Avenue called 9-1-1 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Monday, reporting their carbon monoxide alarm was ringing.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the resident was waiting outside the home.

“As crews approached the home, they detected a strong smell of natural gas and recorded carbon monoxide readings of 35 Parts Per Million (PPM) at the front door before making entry. Enbridge Gas was dispatched to the scene,” Nick DeFazio, Ottawa Fire Services Public Information Officer, said in a statement.

“A full assessment was completed and firefighters recorded readings of 45 PPM of CO throughout the home.”

Firefighters used high-pressure fans to ventilate the home while they worked to identify the source of the carbon monoxide.

“Both attached townhomes were checked and no CO was found inside either unit,” DeFazio said.

“The investigation confirmed that the furnace had failed and was producing levels of approximately 3,000 PPM of CO, most of which was exhausting outside.”

Enbridge was called to decommission the furnace.

DeFazio reminds residents that on Jan. 1, 2026, the Ontario Fire Code will require every home with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage to have carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area and on every floor of a home.

“The fire code is changing in January and calls like this show exactly why,” DeFazio said.