POSSIBLE SUICIDE ATTEMPT FILLS RESIDENCE WITH NATURAL GAS
By Jason Schlesinger
August 2, 2008
At 3:21pm, Nanuet FD was alerted to respond to 8 Grace St. for an odor of natural gas in the residence. While responding, 44-Control advised Chief Pete Winterbourne (8-1) that the Clarkstown Police Dept was on the scene and that the homeowner had apparently tried to commit suicide by turning on all the stove burners and filling the house with deadly natural gas.
Upon arrival, after confirming with the Clarkstown Police that the disturbed party had surrendered himself from the house, Chief Winterbourne ordered first arriving crews from 8-1250 to set-up a positive pressure fan at the front door of the house. Once the fan and a charged hoseline were put into place, crews wearing full SCBA breathing apparatus forced the front door of the house and immediately shut the gas burners and began to search the house for any other possible occupants. After a rapid search determined nobody else was in the house, crews shut the main gas and electricity.
Crews first entering stated that the house was so saturated with gas that they could smell it, even through their protective breathing masks.
Positive pressure ventilation cleared the house of any remnants of natural gas and the scene was deemed safe within 20 minutes.
