A half dozen people were hospitalized by carbon dioxide poisoning in Fontana early Monday morning.
At a few minutes before 4 a.m., the San Bernardino County Fire Department was called to a home in the 16500 block of Athol Street for a reported cardiac arrest, the department said in a news release posted to social media.
“Crews arrived on scene and located one resident in bed who was unconscious and unresponsive, but not in cardiac arrest,” the release said.
Responders also found, however, that five other people in the apartment were “displaying symptoms including unresponsiveness, vomiting, weakness, and altered levels of consciousness.”
The unit was immediately evacuated, and the six occupants, who range in age from 5 to 64 years old, were taken by ambulance to local hospitals in conditions from stable to critical.
A hazardous materials unit was called in to investigate, and “HazMat air monitoring revealed dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) within the apartment,” officials said.
The source of the carbon monoxide remains under investigation by the Southern California Gas Company.
“Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly,” officials said. “San Bernardino County Fire reminds all residents of the importance of installing and maintaining working carbon monoxide detectors in their homes to help prevent tragedies.”
