Carbon Monoxide, Natural Gas Odor Prompts Evacuation of Three Apartment Units

Three west-side apartment units were temporarily evacuated as firefighters investigated a carbon monoxide incident in the building.

Ladder Co. 2 responded to South Burberry Drive for the smell of natural gas in the unit. The occupant led firefighters to their apartment door, where firefighters' handheld Sensit monitors began to detect readings of carbon monoxide at 260 parts per million. Exposure to this level of carbon monoxide is known to cause symptoms including headache, fatigue, and dizziness after 2-3 hours of exposure. Nobody reported experiencing these symptoms.

Ladder 2 proceeded to investigate a faint smell of gas. The only gas-powered appliances in the unit were a shared water heater and the unit's furnace. The furnace had not been in use. 

Firefighters opened all the windows and brought in high-powered fans to clear the gas odor and carbon monoxide from the apartment. MGE was asked to respond. Meanwhile, firefighters checked the apartments above and below for carbon monoxide, and low readings were found. Occupants were asked to step outside for their safety.

With MGE's help, the source of gas odor and carbon monoxide was identified as the hot water heater, which wasn't venting properly to the outside. Another MGE technician was en route to help resolve the situation, and Ladder 2 was released from the scene. Occupants were eventually let back into their units.