Jacksonville, NC – Sixteen people were taken to the hospital early Friday morning after they were exposed to carbon monoxide at a Jacksonville hotel.
Among those affected were Hurricane Florence victims and federal employees in town to help the victims recover.
Jacksonville Public Safety responded to the Holiday Inn Express on the 2000 block of North Marine Boulevard around 3 a.m.
Responding units found high levels of carbon monoxide in the structure, and guests began to get sick.
The building was evacuated, utilities were disconnected and the building was ventilated.
Employees and guests were suffering medical problems due to the high levels of carbon monoxide in the building.
The building was checked to ensure there were no more people inside.
“A total of 15 adults and one child received medical treatment at Onslow Memorial Hospital. All are doing well and we expect them to be released soon” said Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services Battalion Chief Edward “Tee” Tallman.
The business will remain closed until further notice. The property owner is working with associated hotels to obtain accommodations for those displaced by the incident.
“The officers and firefighters responding to this event did an outstanding job in working quickly to clear the hotel and in providing medical aid to the victims” said JPD Deputy Chief Ronnie Dorn.
An investigation is underway to determine where the leak came from.