'A horrible, tragic accident'
Carbon monoxide from propane lamp caused two deaths inside Hay River cabin in October, states coroner's report
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 14, 2014
HAY RIVER
Carbon monoxide poisoning from propane lamps caused the deaths of a Hay River couple staying in a rented cabin last October, a coroner's investigation into the incident has found.
Brenda Laviolette-Rapp, 58, and her common-law husband Robert Bradley, 52, were found deceased on Oct. 13 in a cabin at Mountain Aven Campground over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend.
The investigation concluded that they died accidentally of acute carbon monoxide toxicity. The source of the carbon monoxide were propane lamps that had been left on a low setting through the night.
A local propane dealer and a GNWT gas inspector who were brought in by the NWT Coroner's office found "evidence of inefficient burning" in the lamps to support that conclusion.
"A re-enactment of lamps found them working correctly, but the testing after the lamps had been burning at the low setting after an eight-hour period revealed lethal levels in the air tight environment of the cabin," states the report written by Hay River coroner Jim Forsey.
According to the report released April 9, the couple had checked into the cabin the night before and had been socializing in the campground. After a campfire, they returned to the cabin to retire for the night at about 11 p.m.
The owner of the campground stopped at the cabin three times the next day to collect the rental fee, but the door went unanswered. The police were contacted at 5:30 p.m. to conduct a wellness check. Officers made a forced entry into the cabin and found the two deceased in bed, as well as a strong propane odour inside.
"It's a horrible, tragic accident," said NWT Chief Coroner Cathy Menard, who speaks for the NWT Coroner Services.
She stressed that the role of the coroner's office is not to find fault or assign blame.
"We're fact-finders," she said.
The investigation into the matter has concluded and no charges will be laid, said Sgt. Barry Ledoux, spokesperson with the RCMP's G Division in Yellowknife.
"Nothing criminal was found," he said.
According to friends of the deceased couple, Laviolette-Rapp was originally from Fort Smith, while Bradley was from Newfoundland.
They had moved to Hay River from Edmonton, and had resided in the South Slave community for several years.
Bradley worked as a heavy-equipment mechanic at Rowe's Construction, while Laviolette-Rapp was not working at the time of her death, but had previously been a chef.
Deaths from carbon monoxide - an invisible and odourless gas - are rare in the NWT.
As a result of the tragedy in Hay River, the NWT Coroner Services has recommended the GNWT develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the dangers propane and gas appliances can pose and the importance of installing carbon monoxide detectors.
Specifically, it recommends an educational campaign to ensure the owners of aging propane heating appliances understand the risks associated with not properly maintaining their systems; to emphasize the responsibilities of landlords, homeowners and tenants when it comes to propane or other gas-powered systems, also to highlight the importance of proper installation, use and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors.
"Safety begins with knowledge, and through public awareness we'll all have a better understanding of the important aspects and hazards associated with all these different appliances," said Menard.
"It is a concern because cabins are so much a part of our way of life up here."
There was no carbon monoxide detector in the cabin and there is currently no law requiring such monitors in NWT buildings, including rental units.
"It's up to the owners and the occupants to take care of their safety," said NWT Fire Marshal Chucker Dewar. "Detectors are a first line of defence."
While it may not be legally required, Dewar said the Fire Marshal's Office would "strongly recommend" that owners and occupants install carbon monoxide alarms both in cabins and residential structures.
Dewar has often seen carbon monoxide detectors in homes, but said it seems the devices are not often found in cabins in remote locations.
While he could not say the reason for this trend, he stressed that carbon monoxide detectors are highly portable and can be used easily in off-grid cabins.
To get this message and others out to the public, the Office of the Fire Marshal will launch educational campaign, said Dewar. The campaign will feature posters, pamphlets and other educational material outlining some of the things that can cause carbon monoxide and some of the protection measures that NWT residents can take.
The campaign is expected to launch this coming fall, he said, just before the beginning of hunting season.
- with files from Laura Busch
