Twelve people were taken to hospitals after carbon monoxide was detected in three Gaithersburg, Maryland apartment buildings, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
Fire officials said Washington Gas believes the source of the leak was a stove in one of the buildings, which has since been removed.
At 8:44 a.m., Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said they responded to the building on N. Summit Avenue and got a high carbon monoxide reading. They then also got high readings at the two buildings next to it.
First responders evaluated more than 50 residents total. Of the 12 people taken to local hospitals, at least seven were children and five were children, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. The age of the twelfth person was not released.
Fire officials said that building maintenance and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue ensured all the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors were working, and residents have been allowed back in the building.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that can be poisonous if inhaled in large quantities. It can cause sudden severe symptoms like headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can also be deadly. Since carbon monoxide doesn’t have a color or odor, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue emphasized the importance of carbon monoxide alarms and other prevention strategies.
