Acushnet home where father & son died had no CO detectors

ACUSHNET, Mass. — Officials confirmed Thursday Wednesday that CO poisoning was what killed a father and son in Acushnet.

There were no CO detectors Joe Lopes's home on Buttonwood Drive, said fire marshals. Most CO detectors alarm at 30 ppm; the readings were at 2,600 ppm on the second floor where Joe and 9-year-old Collin were found.

"They had no indication the carbon monoxide levels were steadily rising," said Fire Chief Gallagher.

At a news conference Wednesday, fire marshals urged residents to have CO detectors in the home and make sure they are working.

"They would make a tremendous Christmas gift in memory of Joe and Collin Lopes," said Gallagher.

Officials believe the basement furnace was the source of the CO. They are not sure if it had been worked on recently or not, but it was leaking.

Gallagher said he had talked with the superintendent of Collin's elementary school, and they plan to go into the classrooms to teach more about carbon monoxide.

"They (students) are at a loss of how something that is invisible, tasteless and odorless could have killed one of their friends," said Gallagher.

Fire officials ask everyone one to double check their detectors, both CO and smoke. The Lopes home didn't have smoke detectors either.

There is a vigil Thursday night for Joe and Collin Lopes outside the Buttonwood Drive home.

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