A 75-year-old Stewart Crossing woman died last month from carbon monoxide poisoning near Mayo, the Yukon Coroner’s Service has concluded.

Her death has prompted chief coroner Heather Jones’ office to issue a warning to Yukoners about the use of heating devices that produce carbon monoxide.

Early on the afternoon of Oct. 26, the Mayo detachment of the RCMP and the coroner’s service were notified of a sudden death at 17 Mile Road near Mayo. The road is near km 21.5 on the Silver Trail Highway.

The scene was a recreational cabin, which, at the time of the death, was occupied by the two owners – whose primary residence is in Whitehorse – and two visiting friends from nearby Stewart Crossing.

The owners of the cabin had arrived from Whitehorse on Oct. 23.

When their friends arrived to visit two days later, the homeowners were showing signs of illness. The visitors decided to stay the night to ensure their well-being.

“Late the next morning, one of the visitors awoke to find his partner unresponsive and the other two occupants in need of medical assistance,” the coroner’s office said.

Mayo RCMP, along with Emergency Medical Services (EMS), a local nurse and the Mayo Fire Department, went to the cabin.

The Stewart Crossing resident was pronounced deceased at the scene.

She has been identified as 75-year-old Margaret Elizabeth Carpenter.

Full post-mortem analysis, including toxicology, was completed, and has confirmed that Carpenter died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office attended the scene and has completed a full assessment of the cabin.

Their findings indicated that there were five key factors that may have contributed to altering the atmosphere within the cabin, the coroner’s office said:

1) two woodstoves with no fresh air return;

2) a propane stove/oven with no ventilation;

3) 12-volt batteries charging inside the structure with no ventilation;

4) a thermoelectric generator fuelled by propane inside the structure with no ventilation; and

5) the cabin was well-insulated and sealed with expanding foam insulation and a thermal door and windows.

Furthermore, the cabin was not fitted with either a smoke detection or carbon monoxide detection system.

“The Yukon Fire Marshall’s Office advises that devices that can produce carbon monoxide in our homes – water heaters, furnaces or boilers, fireplaces, both gas and wood burning stoves and ovens – should be inspected annually,” the coroner’s office said.

“Fuel-burning devices that are not approved for indoor use should never be brought into a home, camper, cabin or tent.”

The Yukon Coroner’s Service is continuing its investigation, and expressed appreciation to Mayo’s RCMP and fire department, and the Fire Marshall’s Office.

“We also extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Carpenter and the communities of Mayo and Stewart Crossing,” the coroner’s office said.