[Archived] Carbon Monoxide Leak Sends Three to Hospital.

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

At approximately 6:56 a.m., Alexandria Fire Department units responded for a sickness call in the unit block of Ancell Street.  First arriving units discovered several residents of a home complaining of headaches and nausea.  An adjacent home at the time of the incident had a carbon monoxide detector sounding.  Additional fire department resources were dispatched which discovered elevated levels of carbon monoxide in three dwellings.

Three children, who were occupants of the initial home, were taken to an area hospital for evaluation.  The three properties were ventilated and carbon monoxide levels returned to normal.  The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely.  The Alexandria Fire Department reminds residents to have their gas appliances serviced regularly and to have an operating carbon monoxide detector in homes with gas fueled appliances.

For more information, Contact Robert Rodriguez, Chief Fire Marshal / Community Services Officer at 703.746.5217.