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Nishi Gupta reporting Three Ogden police officers are expected to recover from exposure to carbon monoxide.
As they were investigating a call about an unconscious man, one of the officers lost consciousness, too.
A mother and father, concerned about their 28 year old son, called police after they found him in his home non-responsive. When officers arrived, he was already dead. They didn't know what had happened to him, but they got their answer about fifteen minutes later.
Police say carbon monoxide had made its way through the house. Shortly into their investigation, officers Art Weloth, Brett Connors and Ron Gardiner were overcome by the gas, too. One of them collapsed, the others could have shared the same fate if it hadn't been for quick thinking.
Lt. Tony Fox, Ogden Police Dept.: "We're just lucky all three didn't go down at the same time...one of them had his wits about him to call out on the radio and that they needed help"
The officers were taken to a Salt Lake hospital and placed in an oxygen chamber. Police say a faulty on demand water heater is to blame for the leak. The exact cause of the malfunction is unclear.
On demand water heaters are not new. .Home Depot tells us, if used properly, they can be convenient.
John Norton Asst. Manager, Home Depot: "With an on demand, it heats up instantly so hot water is heated up right then, circulates through, less storage capacity, takes up less room, keeps your hot water going...you don't run out of hot water in a long shower."
These heaters cost more than the tank type. Professional installation and a separate piping system is highly recommended. Installers say people tend to avoid that advice because they want to save money, but say this is not an area to cut corners.
Fire officials say a carbon monoxide detector could have saved the man's life. They recommend putting one by gas-operated appliances, in each bedroom and on every floor of your home. Some cost as little as ten bucks, and with daylight savings around the corner, make sure you put a fresh battery in.
