Tragedy sparks sales of carbon monoxide detectors

KUSA - Since a family was found dead in a multi-million dollar Aspen home, carbon monoxide detectors have been flying off the shelves in some stores.

"We're selling twice as many units per day as we did before at least," said David Michaud, a supervisor at ACE Hardware near Broadway and Alameda in Denver. "Mostly they just don't think they need them, that something like that would never happen to them, which unfortunately isn't always true."

Friends found the bodies of Parker Lofgren, 39, Caroline Lofgren, 42, and their children, Owen, 10, and Sophie, 8, Nov. 28. The sheriff's department believes vents in the snowmelt and heating system leaked carbon monoxide into the home at 10 Popcorn Lane, about four miles east of Aspen.

The CO detection devices vary in what they detect, how they operate and in price. Some detect only carbon monoxide, others detect natural gas, smoke and explosive gas. Some are battery-powered, hard-wired or need to be plugged in.

At ACE Hardware, the prices range from $19.99 to $59.99.

"You should have one on every level of the house, especially closer to water heaters and furnaces which are reproducing the gas," Michaud said.

Cynthia Hirsh had to go looking for three carbon monoxide detectors Tuesday.

"I've been calling all over trying to find carbon monoxide detectors that plug in, because of that terrible tragedy in Aspen," she said, "and everybody seems all out. I was thrilled when I called over here and I got the last three."

ACE Hardware is stocking up. Friday's shipment is 30 percent larger because Hirsh and many others aren't taking any chances.

"It happens, it's rare, but it happens," Hirsh said. "Plus, we have gas in the place we're living."

Kidde, a national carbon monoxide manufacturer, is donating more than 200 carbon monoxide alarms to Safe Kids Denver Metro. Safe Kids plans to donate the alarms to local fire departments. The devices will be distributed by the end of this year. Each fire department will decide how to give them out. Safe Kids is a coalition of agencies in the Denver area committed to injury prevention.