Upper Arlington's Fire Division responded to numerous carbon monoxide calls in a 24-hour span this week, all tied to residents running generators or charging devices indoors during storm-related power outages.
The danger is real.
The city issued an urgent warning on X on Wednesday, Aug. 12, telling residents that carbon monoxide can be deadly and that generators belong outside, at least 20 feet from any home. Residents using a vehicle to charge devices must park completely outside, not in a garage or partially enclosed space.
The calls came as tens of thousands of Franklin County households remained without electricity after Tuesday's storm, which generated roughly 225 calls for service to Upper Arlington fire and police, according to ABC 6. Trees fell on at least 10 homes. No injuries were reported from the storm itself.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 81,000 AEP Ohio customers still lacked power, with Franklin County accounting for about 61,500 of those outages, NBC 4 reported. AEP deployed approximately 3,700 crew members and said full restoration could take until Aug. 14.
That timeline means generators will keep humming across Upper Arlington for days, making the Fire Division's safety rules critical.
Generator safety rules
The city's storm response page spells out specific precautions:
- Keep generators at least 20 feet from the home in well-ventilated areas.
- Ensure exhaust fumes cannot enter through windows or doors.
- Confirm carbon monoxide alarms are working. If you don't have one, install one immediately.
- Switch off the generator and let it cool before refueling.
- Store fuel in a proper container, outside living areas.
Cooling and charging resources
Residents who need air conditioning, device charging or other services can visit several locations the city has opened:
- Bob Crane Community Center — 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Upper Arlington Public Library branches (all three) — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday
- St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Dorset Road — open day and overnight
- Northwest United Methodist Church, 5200 Riverside Drive — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon Friday (shower facilities available)
The Municipal Services Center reopened Thursday, Aug. 13, with regular hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents can report non-emergency storm damage at 614-459-2800. Power outages should be reported to AEP at 1-800-672-2231. For emergencies, call 911.
AEP's estimated full-restoration date of Friday, Aug. 14, remains the next milestone for residents still relying on generators.
