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JACKSONVILLE, Texas — A hotel in Jacksonville was evacuated due to a carbon monoxide leak.
The incident occurred at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham on 1902 S. Jackson St. According to Jacksonville Fire Chief Paul Finley, their dispatch received multiple reports of people having trouble breathing and losing consciousness around 2:05 p.m.
While en route to the hotel, dispatch learned that the incident had occurred in the pool area. Upon arrival, Finley said their hand-held carbon monoxide detectors indicated high levels of carbon monoxide in the area.
Firefighters learned the pool’s heater system was turned on hours before the incident, indicating the carbon monoxide leak was caused by a faulty heater system in the hotel.
The hotel was evacuated, with high levels of carbon monoxide detected on the first and second floors of the building. Officers checked on each room. Finley said the hotel was not heavily inhabited at the time of the incident.
At least two people were taken to a local hospital — including a mother and her 2-year-old child, both of which were in the pool area and are now in stable condition but remain hospitalized, — with others showing minor symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Gas is shut off to the building until crews can inspect the building for a gas leak. La Quinta staff reportedly relocated guests who were evacuated to other residency arrangements at separate locations.
The hotel was ventilated soon after the incident and carbon monoxide levels began to drop, and the gas remains shut off until a licensed plumber is able to inspect the gas system, according to Finley.
2 hospitalized after gas leak at La Quinta in Jacksonville | cbs19.tv
