WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Three people were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning after a non-vented oven was used inside of a home in Willimantic, according to the town's fire chief Sunday.
At 11:53 a.m., firefighters went to a home on Gifford Avenue for a report of smoke in the building with two people possibly unconscious, Fire Chief Marc Scrivener said.
No smoke was found and investigators instead determined that it was a carbon monoxide incident, according to Scrivener. Firefighters learned that there were no working CO detectors in the house.
Three people reported having symptoms, including two that passed out briefly, Scrivener said. All six occupants of the house made it out and were accounted for.
LIFE STAR brought two of the three people with symptoms to a hyperbaric chamber in New York City to be treated for CO poisoning, Scrivener said. A third is currently being treated at Windham Hospital.
Investigators found that the family had been using a propane-fired, commercial-style oven to bake bread in a kitchen, connected to a 20 lbs. propane cylinder. Scrivener said the oven had not been vented.
While the oven was usually used outside, the family told firefighters they brought it inside to bake due to the weather.
Three ambulances responded, including two from Mansfield and one from Willimantic, along with the Fire Marshal's Office.
Firefighters entering the home immediately detected CO levels of 50 parts per million and worked to confirm that the oven and propane cylinder were off, Scrivener said. As they prepared to back out of the building for ventilation, they detected "250 ppm and climbing."
Crews opened the windows to ventilate the building and brought the readings down to 0 ppm, Scrivener said.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, most people will not experience any symptoms from exposure to CO levels between one to 70 ppm, with the exception of some who may have heart pain as a result, but levels that are above 70 ppm can cause more noticeable symptoms including "headache, fatigue and nausea." Levels at 150-200 ppm can cause "disorientation, unconsciousness and death."
Firefighters turned the scene over to the Fire Marshal's Office and returned to their quarters at 1:08 p.m., according to Scrivener.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com
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