Masterton firefighters are pleading with people not to risk gassing themselves to death through their own stupidity after a chance discovery in a flat in the centre of town on Sunday.
Responding to a private fire alarm in a building that is home to several different families and single tenants the firefighters were stunned to find the occupants of one apartment had an outdoor patio gas heater banging away inside the flat.
Assistant area manager with the New Zealand Fire Service in Wairarapa Henry Stechman said when people in the flat were spoken to they appeared "non-plussed" about what they were doing or accepting advice from the Fire Service, saying they had to keep warm somehow.
Only last week, a Taumarunui couple David and Bernadette Otimi were found dead in their Taupo Road home from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the exact same circumstance.
Mr Stechman said the Sunday incident was not an isolated one and there have been several cases of Wairarapa people using the high-powered patio heaters inside buildings.
"It's very disappointing, especially in light of the Taumarunui deaths just a few days ago.
"This is on our doorstep and news stories have told of people dying by using them wrongly.
"Patio gas heaters generate tremendous heat and it is clearly stated on the instructions for use that they are not to be used inside, they burn completely differently from a normal, portable gas heater."
Mr Stechman said he was in the process of checking the provisions of the Building Act with Masterton District Council staff to determine what steps can be taken to deal with incidents such as the one on Sunday.
"I am seeking a definition on what constitutes dangerous use as far as buildings are concerned."
Apart from the risk of death or injury from the use of patio heaters inside there is also a likelihood that wrong use of heaters causing fires could knock out any claims for insurance.
In the case of the Taumarunui deaths a post mortem found Mr and Mrs Otimi has been poisoned through using a patio heater in the bedroom where their bodies were discovered.
Taumarunui police issued a warning not to use the outdoor heaters or gas or charcoal barbecues inside.
In 2007, a Te Kuiti man was gassed to death in his pensioner
flat and investigators found his portable gas heater was still running.
This death prompted authorities to send the heater to Britain for testing and a coroner has reserved his finding on the man's death until the results of that testing are known.
