Faulty furnace in Ohio leaks CO, injures 11

By Martin Rozenman
The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eleven people, including two children, were treated for carbon-monoxide poisoning yesterday after a furnace malfunctioned at their North Side apartment building, Columbus fire officials said.

None of the victims was hospitalized.

At 7:35 a.m., firefighters were called to 1672 Shanley Dr., a six-unit building near Morse and Karl roads, Fire Lt. Horace Jackson said.

With apartments, the gas "can go right through the building," Jackson said. "That's why the numbers here."

Bernita Smith, who lives in the building but did not get sick, said she was alerted when firefighters knocked on residents' doors.

"They wanted everyone to come out and get checked to see if they were sick," she said.

Residents were allowed to re-enter their apartments after fire and Columbia Gas officials gave the go-ahead, Smith said.

But the building will be without heat until the furnace is repaired, Battalion Chief David Whiting said.

Furnace and space-heater problems with carbon monoxide are not unusual, Whiting said.

"The biggest thing is you should have your furnace checked every year," he said.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, Jackson said. "You can't see it. It will fill up a room. You notice yourself getting a headache, nausea, that kind of stuff. You feel flulike symptoms come on you real quick."

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