Apartment Complex Carbon Monoxide Alarm Triggered by Activation of Hot Water Heater in Madison
On Wednesday evening, residents of an apartment complex on Madison's south side were evacuated following a carbon monoxide alarm. The incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. in the 2800 block of Ashford Lane.
The source of the carbon monoxide was traced to a problem with the building’s hot water system. Upon arrival, firefighters from the Madison Fire Department detected carbon monoxide readings of 40-50 parts per million in the basement. The highest readings were found in a room with a water heater.
Crews immediately began ventilating the building until carbon monoxide readings fell to 0 ppm. Fire officials turned off the gas line to the water heater, and MGE placed the main gas line for the building and the water heater out of service.
The water heater would be turned off until maintenance workers could make repairs. Fortunately, no illnesses were reported due to the carbon monoxide leak, and residents were later allowed to go back into the complex.
This incident serves as a reminder for residents to have working carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, it is crucial to evacuate the premises immediately and call the fire department.
Stay safe, Madison!
In light of the recent incident, it's essential to highlight the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks for health-and-wellness equipment like water heaters, which can potentially release harmful substances like carbon monoxide. With advancements in science and therapies-and-treatments, we now have tools like carbon monoxide detectors that can alert us to such dangers, enabling prompt action and ensuring our overall health and well-being.
