Clinton Township, MI – On Nov. 22, nine people at a local apartment complex displayed carbon monoxide-like symptoms after what is thought to be a furnace mishap.
The incident occurred at Peachtree Apartments, near Metropolitan Parkway and Groesbeck Highway, in Clinton Township. The Clinton Township Fire Department was called after a tenant’s carbon monoxide detector displayed above-average readings.
Firefighters had to open four or five apartments to discover the source of the monoxide, and it was believed that one of the furnaces in the complex was the cause of the problem.
Clinton Township Fire Chief Jack Shea said it was deemed through the department’s investigation that a fire problem occurred in an appliance room of the complex. It was an issue associated with heat, which made it quite likely that a furnace crack or leak may have led to the abnormal readings.
Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million, or ppm.
The carbon monoxide readings in the complex on Nov. 22 measured at more than 1,000 ppm. To put that into perspective, Shea said, the average ppm should be around 35. Anything above that standard poses a threat.
Shea added that some of the occupants were complaining about headaches. A few of them were transported to the hospital, including two adults and five children. Other occupants who displayed symptoms are believed to have gone to the hospital on their own.
There was a carbon monoxide case on Sept. 29 that also fit a recent trend of higher-than-average levels.
At Manors at Knollwood, near 19 Mile and Romeo Plank roads, firefighters were called to the complex when a strange situation broke out.
Believe it or not, (those affected) were in a multiple-family building that had garages, and someone’s car starter was malfunctioning and one of the residents’ (20-year-old carbon monoxide) detectors activated and we came out, Shea said. Through the process of investigating, we identified that a person’s car had started, unbeknownst to the owner. It was running in the garage and nobody knew, and it was filling the building with carbon monoxide.
Shea said the garage was attached in a cluster, and the apartment was a decent distance from the garage. The person whose car started lived adjacent to the garage, and another occupant lived above the garage that was leaking carbon monoxide.
It was believed that a remote car starter was responsible for the running vehicle. When readings measured at more than 400 ppm, firefighters shut the car off and ventilated the surrounding area. Everyone was all right and nobody was reported as needing further treatment.
In both cases, because carbon monoxide is referred to as a silent killer, it was the detection devices that called it to everyone’s attention, Shea said. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have a detector.
As for how frequent carbon monoxide runs occur in the township, the exact number is unidentified. However, the problem seems to arise more in the fall and winter months.
We go on many carbon monoxide alarms, and we’re entering the time of year it’s more prevalent because buildings are closed up and heating plants are on, he said. Between October and March, this is where we see a spike in incidents because of environmental conditions and heat is being used.