A Palos Hills couple died earlier this month when carbon monoxide from a generator filled their camper while they were staying at a campground in northwest Indiana.
Salvatore Fogu, 68, and his wife, Deborah, 65, were killed June 13 by the poisonous gas, according to the Porter County Coroner’s office. Their deaths were ruled accidental.
The couple were staying at the Lakeshore Camp Resort in Portage and were using a portable generator because of a power outage when they died. The generator was running outside and near a window air conditioner, said Portage Fire Chief Chris Crail.
Until he retired, Sal owned Power Cartage, a Chicago-based trucking company, where his wife worked as a receptionist.
They were very popular and were frequent visitors at the resort. Other campers said when they arrived on Friday, they had purchased fuel for generators for anybody at the resort who needed it.
They also owned a condo in Las Vegas
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta and his wife, Meg, toured the campground June 15 to see the damage.
In another carbon monoxide incident the same day, six people were transported to a hospital, Crail said.
Mayor Bonta warned people on social media to not use portable generators in or near their homes.
“Our city has now experienced several bad carbon monoxide emergencies, including tragic incidents that have taken lives,” Bonta wrote. “Our prayers are with the families and friends of those who have been lost to these issues.”
The fire department shared an infographic directing people to make sure generators are at least 20 feet from their homes and to be aware of which way the exhaust is directed.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. It can cause headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of consciousness.