SPENCER, IA (KTIV) – One person was hospitalized after Spencer Fire Rescue were called to the Holiday Inn in Spencer, IA because of high carbon monoxide levels Saturday.
According to Spencer Fire Rescue, they were called Saturday night to assist Black Hills Energy. Five customers had to be evacuated.
A faulty heating system was identified as the potential problem according to authorities.
CRFD and CRPD Respond to Possible Carbon Monoxide Leaks at Motel 6 on SW side –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(July 08, 2023 – 3:10p.m.)
Cedar Rapids, IA –
Cedar Rapids Police and Cedar Rapids Firefighters responded to multiple calls for service regarding potential gas or vapor exposure at Motel 6 – 616 33rd Ave SW on Saturday. The first call came at 10:14a.m., the second at 1:44p.m.
The first call ended when utility crews indicated they had secured what they believed to be the source of the exposure and rectified the issue. A few hours later, guests at the hotel began complaining of symptoms in-line with gas exposure and the fire department was called again to respond. At this point, firefighters evacuated the building and began a room-by-room search ensuring all residents were safely moved. Other fire crews searched for the source of the leak and ventilated the building. Utility crews – at the time of the posting – are working to locate the source of the exposure and mitigate the issue. At this time, it is not known now how long guests will be displaced.
One patient was evaluated by Area Ambulance crews but did not require further treatment or transport to medical care. No firefighter injuries are reported in this event.
The cause of the exposure is still under investigation.
“A clogged lint trap was discovered in a dryer in the building’s laundry room, which was blocking carbon monoxide produced by the machine from leaving through the exhaust pipe and instead was leaking into the laundry room.”
“Nearly two dozen workers were taken to local hospitals after elevated levels of carbon monoxide were found inside the offices and warehouse of NFI Interactive Logistics. Cedar Rapids fire crews were called just after 2:30 p.m. to the scene at 3110 Prairie Valley Ct. SW, for reports of carbon monoxide alarms going off inside the large warehouse and its attached office space.”
“Fire officials said Friday they had no knowledge of carbon monoxide detectors going off that evening, but that doesn’t mean the facility doesn’t have them.
In addition, Fire Marshal Brock Weliver pointed out the facility, with a “big, wide open space, isn’t necessarily required” to have detectors to comply with the International Fire Code.
Fire officials had no guess as to how long people had been exposed, a major factor in determining health risk.“
“Levels as high as 314 parts per million were detected inside the Hippodrome…ground floor level was 182, and a reading of 232 ppm was found in the women’s bathroom.
The first call to the scene…came for an unconscious person at 9:05 p.m.
…emergency personnel are on standby for such an event, but are not inspecting for hazards like a gas.
…Asked about who has the responsibility of ensuring a safe environment, (fire chief) said the event sponsor or the building owner.”
“State officials already planned to demolish the building when the leak occurred. Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Director Judy Bradshaw told the Register that the building did not have a carbon monoxide detector, even though the Legislature had passed a law the previous summer requiring state buildings to have them. Bradshaw said at the time that she was not aware of the law.”
CARBON MONOXIDE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE: Dozens hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning at at Camp Dodge Law Enforcement Academy in Iowa…NO carbon monoxide alarms in the dorm…
“Authorities say one person died and 14 more were hospitalized after breathing carbon monoxide at their church in Iowa, where a gasoline-powered generator was running in the unvented basement to provide heat and lighting.”
“The Storm Lake Fire Department, police and Alliant Energy responded to a Burger King on Tuesday night after an odor of natural gas was reported…Authorities said no natural gas was detected, but carbon monoxide was. Firefighters determined a faulty rooftop heating unit caused the problem.”
John Bayness and Christopher Adams probably died of carbon monoxide poisoning in not much more than 12 minutes inside a car wash here, an expert said.
And the two were probably “intoxicated” by the gas within minutes and couldn’t comprehend what was happening, said Tom Greiner, an Iowa State University Extension associate professor.
Greiner conducted tests at the Wonder Wash Car Wash Monday with the older-model sport utility vehicle the two victims were driving. The pair stopped at the car wash Friday on their way to Arizona for a vacation. Both of the bay’s doors were closed.
Because of the extremely high level of carbon monoxide produced by their vehicle, the pair probably didn’t experience any of the common symptoms associated with the poisoning — headache, drowsiness and nausea, Greiner said. They didn’t know they needed to get out, he said.
“It’s worse than being drunk on alcohol,” Greiner said.
Bayness, 23, and Adams, 20, were found by a car wash customer about 1:25 p.m. Friday. Officials found the ignition still in the on position.
Preliminary autopsy results showed they died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, according to The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fifteen hundred people die annually because of accidental CO exposure, and an additional 10,000 seek medical attention, the association says.
A similar incident to Friday’s claimed the life of Nolan Reetz of Jesup last December.
Here’s some information on CO, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission:
Breathing CO usually causes symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and weakness in healthy people. It also causes sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and disorientation. At very high levels, it causes loss of consciousness and death.
CO is colorless and odorless. This is particularly dangerous because people often don’t realize they are in trouble. Some of the symptoms are similar to the flu or other common illnesses.
Many CO problems occur in homes and businesses, but dangerous levels of CO can be prevented with proper appliance and equipment maintenance and installation.
Some common equipment that produces carbon monoxide includes automobiles, fuel-fired furnaces, gas water heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves, lawn mowers and snow blowers. Don’t run engines in the garage.
Detectors are available to help monitor levels of CO in buildings and should be installed on each floor, especially sleeping floors.
If a carbon monoxide problem is suspected, immediately open doors or windows to ventilate the house and get everyone outside for fresh air. Call the fire department of utility company.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from vehicles, Greiner said:
Make certain all vehicles are tuned up and running clean.
Check and repair exhaust system leaks.
When starting a car and leaving from the garage:
Never run engine in a garage, even if the garage door is open, except for driving in and out.
Make certain everyone is in the car and ready to leave.
Open the overhead garage door before starting the car.
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