Two people were rescued from a rural home north of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, after authorities suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The incident began when a woman received a concerning but vague call for help from her son, who had failed to show up for his shift. Coworkers couldn’t reach him, prompting law enforcement involvement.
The man’s stepfather went to check on the residence and found the son unconscious on a couch and his father (the son’s father) unresponsive inside. Emergency responders from the Rice Lake Fire Department and Barron County Sheriff’s Office arrived, confirmed symptoms consistent with CO exposure, and used detection equipment to identify the hazard. One victim was airlifted by Lifelink helicopter while the other was transported by ambulance; both were hospitalized, though their conditions were not released.
The quick response by family and first responders likely prevented a worse outcome in what appears to have been a dangerous CO leak at the home.