Highland Township Fire Department Awarded Grant for Gas Monitors
(Terry Lakins, July 25, 2026)
Highland Township, MI – The Highland Township Fire Department was awarded a grant for $14,320 to support getting new gas monitors. These gas monitors will help monitor air quality and will support detecting 5 different gases. Enbridge, a natural gas company, is providing the grant.
The current gas monitors, which are an apparatus the fire fighters carry on themselves, are normally able to detect four main gases: oxygen, hydrogen sulfite, carbon monoxide and lower explosive limit (LEL) gases, which includes methane, and other potentially explosive gases. The new gas monitors will be able to detect carbon dioxide, which previously would have required a second monitor for the fire fighters to manage. Carbon dioxide can become very dangerous in enclosed spaces if too much of it is built up, which causes suffocation through displacement of oxygen.
Residents may be familiar with carbon monoxide, but carbon dioxide is also a potential hazard. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “A carbon dioxide (CO₂) detector measures gas levels to monitor indoor air quality or prevent suffocation in commercial spaces. It is different from a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm, which is a life-safety device required in homes to detect a toxic, lethal byproduct of incomplete fuel combustion.”
Highland Township Fire Chief Nick George said this will provide more safety for the firefighters when entering buildings and residences. Chief George expressed that any potentially harmful gases can come from the unlikeliest places. In a recent case they had an electric toothbrush in a residence’s home that started the off-gassing process in the bathroom. This occurred because the battery swelled, causing harmful bouts of both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The fire fighters got to it before a fire could start.
These new monitors are not only for making response calls safe for the fire authorities, but education about them can possibly prevent fires from occurring. Chief George emphasized that harmful gases can be just as dangerous as any fire and urges residents to not engage with gas if they, or their own home monitoring devices, detect it.
“You never know what condition the gas is in,” Chief George said. If something is giving off fumes, “don’t touch it, don’t turn on lights, or turn them off. Leave everything the way it is, exit the home and call us.”
Learn more about Highland Township Fire Department at https://firedepartment.highlandtwp.net/
