Elyria, OH – A woman was found unconscious in her kitchen after firefighters discovered a gas leak emitting more than 500 times the normal amount of carbon monoxide.
We measured the carbon monoxide at 500 parts per million; 0 to 10 is normal so it was pretty high, said Elyria Fire Capt. Joseph Pronesti.
Sara Inge, 32, of Elyria, was flown to The University of Toledo Medical Center to recover in a hyperbaric chamber after a carbon monoxide leak was found in her furnace.
Firefighters responded to 718 Case Ave. Friday at 7 p.m. for a structure fire, but determined the smoke-like-clouds emitting from the house was actually steam.
There ended up being a problem with her hot water boiler, Pronesti said. It’s powered by gas but the furnace is like a boiler where it raises the temperature. We contacted Columbia Gas and had to ventilate the house.
Pronesti said Inge likely passed out because of the high dose of carbon monoxide she overcame in a short period of time.
Usually when someone gets carbon monoxide poisoning, they are exposed to it for a long period of time and eventually start to get flu-like symptoms, he said. But in this case, the victim was hit with such a high amount, she became unconscious.
Inge was breathing when she was found in her kitchen, Pronesti said. Her condition is unknown at this time.