Fairbanks, AK – A corroded vent hose caused carbon monoxide poisoning that sickened four soldiers near Eielson Air Force Base in September.
A safety investigation report concluded the poorly vented exhaust system caused the gas to build up in a kitchen tent used by soldiers during a field exercise, said U.S. Army Alaska spokesman Lt. Col. Alan Brown. Brown received a copy of the investigation into the Sept. 25 incident this week.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible odorless gas produced by combustion. It’s toxic and if breathed in sufficient quantities is fatal to humans.
Four Anchorage-based soldiers showed elevated carbon monoxide levels in their blood because of the exposure, but all recovered and returned to their units, Brown said. An additional 19 soldiers were screened for carbon monoxide poisoning as a precaution. The soldiers were all part of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
The report determined the carbon monoxide came from a gas-fueled oven used to heat large trays of food. The oven was supposed to be vented to carry exhaust outside the kitchen tent, but because of the corrosion the hose was not properly connected to the oven’s heater fan, Brown said.
Brown said the safety investigation highlights the importance of regular maintenance.
“Any time we have an incident that involves equipment it’s a reminder that we always need to always properly maintain our equipment and do checks very frequently,” he said.