JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) — Five people, including a child, were hospitalized after a carbon monoxide incident in Queens.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. on 198th Street and 115th Avenue in Jamaica.
Firefighters and FDNY responded to the scene, where they discovered elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the building and in neighboring buildings.
Investigators say there were no working carbon monoxide detectors throughout the entire house. The buildingwas also illegally subdivided and carved into separate units — a deadly combination.
Neighbors two doors down fro the home fled, and say a number of children were put at risk, breathing in the colorless, odorless carbon monoxide.
“It’s really scary… it was just a panic,” said Justin Henderson.
First responders were originally called to the home after a resident lost consciousness. Paramedics treated five people and rushed them to Nassau County Medical Center.
“…the initial call indicated an unresponsive toddler. A fire official said the child required advanced life support care in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.”
“The most frequent question we have received is ‘why don’t the residential buildings at Miami have carbon monoxide detectors as normally is required by building code?’ Under state building and fire codes, if there is no carbon monoxide produced in a building OR if a carbon monoxide source is sealed and exhausted directly outdoors without entering sleeping quarters, monitors are not required.”
“The Nov. 18 carbon monoxide leak that forced the evacuation of Miami University’s Hillcrest Hall dormitory “violated the trust” students have in the university to provide a safe living environment, the school’s Institutional Response Team said in a campus-wide email Thursday, Dec. 2.”
“Gail Amundsen and Murray Church, longtime residents of Point Roberts, were discovered dead in their home on Calder Drive on Thanksgiving Day evening.
Newly constructed, the couple had only moved into the house on August 9. According to the fire chief and WCSO, while the house had fire detectors, no CO monitors or alarms were found. Since 2011, all newly constructed homes in Washington state must have CO alarms installed adjacent to all bedrooms and on all floors.”
“It is the basic responsibility of our university to protect its students, and when a randomly-purchased $15 carbon monoxide detector does more to save lives than an administration, that means something needs to change around here.”
“Before lunch could be served, four ICE detainees and one kitchen staffer had fainted and were rushed to the hospital for carbon monoxide inhalation. Two of the victims were later airlifted elsewhere…one of the exhaust fans on a piece of kitchen equipment was not activated…”
Bedford, VA – “According to the Bedford Fire Department, the leak began in the kitchen from a gas appliance with the pilot light blown out.” No mention of CO alarms.
“A jury on Wednesday found the R.I. Airport Corporation was negligent on July 1, 2015 when carbon monoxide entered the office of the two Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers near a Southwest Airlines gate at T.F. Green.”
“Firefighters with @MetroWestAmb on scene of a carbon monoxide emergency in the 1000-block of SE Walnut. 6-patients assessed for exposure. Safety reminder: Do not run gas-powered equipment inside your home or business to prevent dangerous build-up of CO gas.” And make sure you have CO alarms installed to provide an alert in case someone doesn’t know this information or forgets.
“The firefighters wear carbon monoxide detectors on their medical bags…When the firefighters walked into the store, those CO monitors went off…(Fire Chief) said the incident proved how important it is to have a CO detector in homes and businesses.”
“It’s hard to accept the fact that we showed up in such a quick fashion, yet we were unable to save even one life in this building,” Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan said…Officials believe the dogs likely died due to smoke inhalation. Hardt wishes the pet resort had a sprinkler and carbon monoxide system in place that could have possibly saved the dogs lives.”
“In late 2019, air circulation problems shut down five operating rooms at the Fanny Allen campus, which conducted about 30 outpatient surgeries a day.
Carbon monoxide was found in the ventilation system, causing dizziness and nausea in staff. A similar issue in the building’s inpatient rehab area displaced 14 patients. After months of investigations, a brief attempt to reopen the OR and inpatient rehab unit and yet another poisoning incident in November 2020, Fanny Allen closed permanently last fall.“
Is CO in the air at your workplace? Your doctor’s office? The hospital where you’re having surgery? Is there CO detection installed to alert staff before you become injured?
“Fire personnel located the room with the greatest concentration of the gas at 150 ppm. They discovered a detached exhaust pipe from a natural gas-fired hot water heater and determined the carbon monoxide…was being released in the room…If CO alarms were not present or not operating properly this incident could have surely proven fatal.
SHAES (South Haven Area Emergency Services) withheld the name and address of the hotel to preserve anonymity.”
Bremerton, WA: “Thirty-three sailors assigned to the USS Michigan submarine were taken to the hospital Monday following potential exposure to exhaust from the boat’s diesel engine during maintenance work at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.”
“About 40 people were evacuated from the Comfort Suites in Freeport Tuesday morning after the gas-fired water heaters malfunctioned and caused a carbon monoxide leak. Firefighters arrived on scene around 9 a.m. A hotel maintenance worker noticed the leak Monday afternoon, but didn’t call 911.”
“The occupancy of the building has been deemed a serious hazard due to the installation of five natural gas-fired fuel water heaters that are not vented to the exterior of the building, according to the violation notice.
This results in the exhausting of carbon monoxide into the occupied building in quantities more than those deemed hazardous or fatal to human life, according to the notice. The heaters were installed without application, review, approval or inspection.“
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities responded to a carbon monoxide leak early Tuesday morning at the Westin Governor Morris…firefighters from the five Morris Township stations and Madison worked to locate the source and evacuate guests. Officials located readings on all floors and secured issues with the boiler…”
“Imagine suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, reporting it, and then being fired for seeking medical attention. Toxic work environment? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says yes.”
“At around 9:53 a.m. fire officials said that everyone in the 9-story Crown Plaza Hotel, located at 138-10 135th Avenue by JFK airport was being evacuated, as carbon monoxide levels reached 100-200ppm throughout the whole building — a “dangerous” level according to safety experts. One EMS member was hurt during the evacuation, and taken to Elmhurst Hospital…”
York County Fire & Life Safety Responds to a Gas Leak at the Embassy Suites Hotel—Mooretown Road in Bruton Area of York County
Late last night, personnel from the York County Department of Fire & Life Safety along with automatic mutual aid units from the James City County Fire Department and the Williamsburg Fire Department responded to a report of a gas leak at the Embassy Suites, located at 3006 Mooretown Road in the Bruton area of York County. Upon arrival, personnel entered the structure and discovered high levels of carbon monoxide and natural gas. Crews began to evacuate the hotel’s occupants. Additional medical resources were requested and a total of six patients were evaluated and/or treated at the scene, one of which was transported by medic unit to a local hospital. Crews secured the gas and ventilated the structure. The Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue responded specialized ventilation apparatus/equipment. Virginia Natural Gas responded to the scene and the cause of the situation is under investigation.
Upon completion of extension ventilation efforts and air quality returned to normal levels hotel guests and staff were allowed to return to the building. All fire/rescue units have since cleared the scene.
Questions can be directed to the York County Department of Fire & Life Safety at 757-890-3600.
“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.”
Houston, TX – “In January 2019, a worker at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel in Waller alerted their employer that exposure to carbon monoxide made them ill and asked the employer to call an ambulance. In addition to refusing the worker’s request, the employer allegedly threatened to terminate the employee. After going to the hospital, the worker was terminated.”
This. Is. Awesome. Truly remarkable all that Nikki Zellner has accomplished in getting CO detection requirements in place to protect kids in her home state of Virginia…all in the short span of one year.
“The other reason to applaud the new legislation is that its smooth passage through the General Assembly is an encouraging story that shows what can happen when our system works the way it’s supposed to. People became aware of a problem and spoke out. Responsible local journalists helped spread the word. And politicians responded with a sensible measure to make schools and day cares safer and avoid preventable illness and death.”
WAKEFIELD, Neb. — “Five people were hospitalized after a carbon monoxide incident at a bowling alley on Main Street in Wakefield Friday night. Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday, Wakefield Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the establishment at 311 Main St., “for a suspected gas leak with people down,” according to a press release from the Dixon County Sheriff’s Office.”
North Carolina – “At about 7:30 p.m., Kannapolis Fire responded to a call to the facility, and upon arrival, found one person who had passed out due to exposure to carbon monoxide…”
Two people were killed after being poisoned by carbon monoxide in an apartment building in Brooklyn Monday evening, fire officials said.
The two victims, identified by police sources as adult men, were sickened by the gas in a basement apartment on Avenue O near West 4th Street in Bensonhurst at about 7:40 p.m., authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the apartment and declared the two victims dead at the scene, fire officials said.
Four other people were treated at the scene, but did not require hospitalization, the FDNY said.
A man who lives on the second floor of the building said Monday night that he was dizzy and had a headache this weekend.
“We were getting headaches from Saturday night to overnight to Sunday,” the tenant, 27-year-old Carlos Hernandez, said. “From the morning when we woke up there was just dizziness and headaches.”
Hernandez said he felt so unwell that he went to a hospital to get a coronavirus test, which came back negative.
“Thankfully we had the window open at that point,” he said.
The cause of the leak is under investigation, but a police source said it did not appear suspicious. The buildings department was also investigating the cause, a spokesperson said.
“…it happened at Bida Vinh pool hall, 720 9th Avenue…preliminary information indicates several people needed a place to stay and they were staying inside the business. A generator had been placed outside.”
Beaverton, OR – “One patient was unconscious, unable to move on his own and one patient basically staggered outside with the help of Beaverton (police)…the call initially came in as a cardiac arrest.“
What’s in the air you’re breathing at work?
Quality Inn, Rutland, VT – “…and the portion of the building where the rooms were located measured at 300 ppm…the building had 64 rooms, most or all of which were occupied by multiple people…vulnerable population and also apparently some essential workers…” Source of CO listed as a gas powered power washer.
“One of the teacher’s husbands brought a carbon monoxide detector a few hours later to test, and when it was plugged in, the alarm went off immediately.”
“Three people were taken to the hospital following a hazardous materials incident at Americana Grocery at 6128 Columbia Pike near the Lake Barcroft area at about 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the store. The fire department believes the leak was caused by a malfunctioning appliance. The fire department shut off the appliance and ventilated the building.”
“The utility realized it was sending out the wrong mixture of gas to air to appliances such as boilers, clothes dryers, and stoves, with too much natural gas being sent out into the supply line. That type of mix could lead to carbon monoxide leaking into homes and businesses…” Businesses affected included the Marriott Hotel on Railroad Street.
Spokane, WA – “…residents were using three generators that were on the roof near the unit’s windows to power portable space heaters and other electronic devices…exhaust from the generators vented back into the cracked windows, causing increased levels of dangerous carbon monoxide to accumulate”
As it gets colder, more people head inside with their windows and doors shut and their furnaces, stoves and fireplaces turned up high.
But Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said it’s prime time for carbon monoxide emergencies. In fact, there have been several in Spokane over the last few months.
The most recent incident happened at Luna, a restaurant on the South Hill. Chief Schaeffer said firefighters were called because someone reported feeling sick.
He said firefighters wear CO detectors, and as soon as they walked in, the detectors started going off, which meant the carbon monoxide level was too high.
A woman was taken to the hospital and the restaurant was evacuated.
It turned out the issue was a stove that wasn’t properly ventilating.
KHQ reached out to Luna. They didn’t want to be part of this story, but said the situation has been resolved.
Chief Schaeffer said there’s an easy way to prevent a similar situation from happening in your own home.
“This is the time of year to be proactive and make sure your CO detector is installed correctly, or that it has a battery backup,” Chief Schaeffer said.
He said everyone needs to have a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on every floor of a home. They’re available on Amazon for less than $15.
It’s also important to note that if you’re renting an AirBnB, make sure to ask about carbon monoxide detectors. A study has showed that while 80 percent of them usually have smoke detectors, less than 50 percent usually have carbon monoxide detectors.
No deaths and no injuries at this sorority house at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln…they had CO alarms, and they evacuated to fresh air and called 911 when they heard them going off. A model of what all CO exposure incidents should look like.
Dallas, TX – CO alarms provide an immediate alert when someone makes a life threatening mistake, like using a grill indoors. Hopefully these people are all okay and have no long term effects.
“Chipotle Mexican Grill at Hingham Derby Street Shops and the building it is attached to was evacuated Monday morning due to a carbon monoxide leak…one of the rooftop heating units was not working correctly and letting carbon monoxide into the restaurant.
The neighboring businesses had high carbon monoxide levels as well, so the fire department evacuated the entire building.”
“Firefighters were called to the meetinghouse at 650 E. Stadium Ave. in Provo just after 11 a.m. Sunday. They later learned that a boiler problem had sent a buildup of carbon monoxide into the church…Firefighters measured the carbon monoxide in the air at the church at 400 to 500 ppm…Of the 60 people treated, 24 underwent hyperbaric treatment, a therapy where people with carbon monoxide poisoning are put in a chamber filled with pure oxygen”
“North Shore Fire says four people were treated on scene with two rushed to the hospital…’I’m not sure how long each of those employees was here but obviously progressing over the entire shift, being exposed to those levels could be fatal,’ Capt. Dan Tyk said….Firefighters said the highest levels of carbon monoxide were measured at 500 parts per million. Investigators said the oven hood wasn’t venting properly. ”
Several businesses were evacuated, and four people evaluated, after carbon monoxide was detected Monday afternoon at Columbia Square, the strip mall anchored by Chuck’s Produce in east Vancouver.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 4:25 p.m. to 13215 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Readings revealed carbon monoxide levels were above normal, Vancouver firefighter-spokeswoman Eva Scherer said. The four people evaluated for symptoms of exposure declined transport to a hospital.
The call originated from an alarm at a Supercuts barbershop, and nine businesses were affected, Scherer said. Chuck’s Produce was not among the businesses evacuated.
An “oily” or exhaust-like odor was reported, said Bob Sisson, owner of Kazoodles toy store at the east end of the shopping mall. Sisson said it appeared the issue started inside a vacant storefront near Supercuts. Workers left the space about 3:30 p.m.
“…construction at a store inside the mall caused the leak…Amy Towne, the manager at the luggage store Tumi, said she was rushed to the emergency room after falling ill at work.
‘Around noon-ish I wasn’t feeling well. I was feeling really tired, dizzy, lightheaded, and nauseous,’ Towne explained. ‘It wasn’t until the fire department showed up in the store, which was after 1:30 p.m. that we were told there were high levels of carbon monoxide in our building and we had to evacuate.'”
“One person was taken to the hospital after exhaust from a Zamboni machine lead to elevated carbon monoxide levels at the Crystal Lake Ice House on Saturday, fire officials said. Authorities initially responded to the ice rink, at 320 E. Prairie Street, for an EMS call at about 1:40 p.m. While at the scene, fire officials determined there were elevated carbon monoxide levels in the building, which houses three ice rinks, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department. At the time, the ice rinks were being used for a hockey tournament…”
MENU
