On February 15, the RCMP found two men dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in an ice fishing tent on a frozen lake in northeastern Alberta.
The men had been fishing in Crow Lake Provincial Park, about an hour and a half south of Fort McMurray. Family members alerted officers after the two men stopped responding to messages.
The Boyle detachment of the RCMP arrived on scene along with Lac La Biche Fire and EMS, and Fort McMurray Fish and Wildlife. The two men have been identified as 45-year-old Ray Foley from Fort McMurray and 37-year-old Shawn Paul from Labrador City, N.L. Gofundme pages have been set up for both men to assist their families.
Sgt. Dennis Properzi, the commanding officer of the Boyle RCMP detachment, confirmed that there appeared to be no criminal intent and that the likely cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. “The Alberta medical examiner’s office is currently investigating,” he says.
Inside the tent, a propane-powered device had been used as a heating source, producing carbon monoxide. “In that kind of situation, you have to have some kind of an opening to allow fresh air in,” says Properzi. Many newer ice fishing tents are good at preventing drafts from coming in but bad at letting carbon monoxide out.
Smoke detector safety tips
Experts suggest reading the propane heater’s instruction manual before use. Some heaters come with an oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the machine off if oxygen levels grow too low. If a heater doesn’t have this sensor, it’s important to create good ventilation and monitor how long the machine’s running.
There are carbon monoxide detectors that can be hung inside a tent or shack while ice fishing. The detectors measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air and will set off an alarm if a certain threshold is reached.
A diesel heater is also an option. The combustion portion of these heaters remains outside, pumping hot air into the tent or shack through a hose.
Finally, be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They tend to be flu-like, and include headaches, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, and nausea; drinking alcohol can speed up the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. If experiencing these symptoms, an individual should either call 911 or get themselves to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible. Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill within minutes.
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