The investigation continues into what exactly led to a baby boy’s death on Sunday after emergency crews responded to a south-end Barrie home for a carbon monoxide call.
A 10-month-old boy was pronounced dead at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, while his 30-year-old mother, who was found unresponsive inside the home, and two-year-old sister, who was alert but showing symptoms of carbon-monoxide poisoning, were also rushed to the hospital.
The mother and daughter were airlifted to a Toronto-area hospital.
Police said Monday that the mother remains in stable condition, while the little girl has been released.
On Monday, officials said what led to the suspected leak has not been determined.
City police are working in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner to determine the cause of the leak.
Investigators are also being assisted by Enbridge and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
The Barrie fire department’s Samantha Hoffmann said there was no working carbon monoxide alarm in the home, located on Barre Drive near Yonge Street and D’Ambrosio Drive.
“We did find one in the basement, but it did not have a battery in it and had not been installed,” she said.
Responding to such as devastating scene is tough on emergency crews, Hoffmann said.
“It’s very, very difficult,” she said. “Any time there’s young children involved or a family, it’s not a pleasant situation.
“We’re trained as first-responders, but we are human, and for first-responders who have children of that age, it stays with you, for sure,” Hoffmann added.
Firefighters responded to the home for a medical call Sunday morning after the father returned from work, discovered what was happening and called 911.
When firefighters entered the home around 8:30 a.m., they detected carbon-monoxide levels of 300 parts per million.
Hoffmann said Sunday’s tragedy hammers home the need for working carbon-monoxide detectors.
“You cannot see it, taste it or smell it,” she said. “The only way you can protect your family from carbon monoxide is if you have all of your fuel-fired appliances inspected annually by someone who is licensed and certified, so by a professional.”
CO alarms should also be installed near all sleeping areas, she added.
