Chico, CA – Guests staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott had to evacuate Thursday afternoon due to high levels of carbon monoxide.
CAL FIRE was dispatched to a medical call on Thursday at noon at the Residence Inn. Two guests were said to have been experiencing headaches, dizziness, and nausea. CAL FIRE transported the two guests to Enloe Medical Center.
After diagnosing the two guests, Enloe Medical Center called fire dispatch and said that these patients may have suffered from possible carbon monoxide poisoning. CAL FIRE and the Chico Fire Department then went to the hotel to check for carbon monoxide levels.
“Engine 44 (of CAL FIRE) and Chico Engine 5 with our hazmat monitoring equipment, came back to the hotel and that’s when we were able to take measurements of carbon monoxide,” said Chico Fire Captain Shawn Eccles.
The hotel evacuated all of its guests while firefighters worked to ventilate the rooms and shut off the gas. The firefighters went to the room the two guests were staying in to investigate the carbon monoxide levels.
“We went into that room and measured the carbon monoxide levels and found levels above 150 parts per million which is significant. Then next to that room, we found a water heater room where the levels of carbon monoxide were about 550 parts per million,” said Eccles.
Firefighters’ carbon monoxide monitors will start alarming at 25 parts per million.
Firefighters let guests back into their rooms after carbon monoxide levels disappeared. Eccles said that it took around half an hour for the levels to drop.
Carbon Monoxide symptoms include dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea. High levels of carbon monoxide may make people go to sleep and never wake up.
“If you are noticing these symptoms, you should evacuate the area. Get out to some fresh air. After a while your body will get rid of the carbon monoxide and start giving you the oxygen you need,” said Eccles.
The two guests who were transported to Enloe Medical Center are in stable condition.