Fresno Fire’s hazmat team found an elderly man asleep next to a burning grill inside a garage apartment.
FRESNO, Calif. — Two people were taken to a hospital early Tuesday after crews discovered a charcoal barbecue operating inside a detached garage converted to living space near Iowa Avenue and 3rd Street, according to Fresno Fire.
The incident began shortly after midnight when a woman in her 60s felt sick and went to a hospital on her own. Clinicians measured high carbon monoxide in her blood and notified firefighters, who traced the call to a central Fresno address. When a hazmat unit arrived, responders found an elderly man asleep with the grill still smoldering inside the closed space, officials said. The man was taken for treatment while crews ventilated the garage and checked neighboring areas for gas buildup.
Fire spokesperson Josh Sellers said the device was a charcoal, Weber-style grill used as an improvised heater. “Gas-powered equipment inside your home can produce carbon monoxide,” Sellers said. “It’s colorless, tasteless, odorless.” Residents at the property told crews the pair had been staying in the converted garage and had turned to the grill as temperatures fell. Measurements at the doorway and interior showed elevated readings before the space was aired out, Sellers said. Officials did not release the couple’s names.
The case comes as winter approaches and local stores report increased interest in plug-in heaters with automatic shutoffs and other features. Fire officials said unapproved devices and open-flame heat inside enclosed rooms remain among the most common triggers of cold-weather emergencies. Investigators did not immediately say how long the grill had been burning or whether alarms were installed in the garage unit. The condition of the two patients beyond initial stabilization was not immediately available.
No violations or citations were announced by Wednesday afternoon. The department said standard reporting will follow, including incident logs and any referrals to city code or housing agencies if warranted. Fire units completed ventilation and cleared the scene before dawn. Officials said they would continue seasonal outreach on carbon monoxide risks as the forecast calls for cool nights through the weekend.
Neighbors said the block was quiet until engines arrived with lights on. “We just saw the doors open and the crews moving fast,” said a resident who lives across the alley. Sellers said the quick notification from hospital staff likely prevented a worse outcome by sending crews back to the address.
As of Wednesday, the garage was secured and the department awaited routine paperwork and any follow-up medical updates later in the week.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.