Firefighters evacuated several units at a 55-plus development after elevated carbon monoxide levels were detected.
Firefighters from the Langhorne-Middletown and Yardley-Makefield fire companies and the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad responded to The Villas of Shady Brook in Middletown Township for the call at 3:10 a.m. on Monday.
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Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company Chief Frank Farry said the call was at a quad-style condo building in the complex, which sits in Middletown Township near the border with Newtown and Lower Makefield townships.
A carbon monoxide detector went off in one unit and PECO came out. A PECO crew member found several units with higher-than-normal carbon monoxide levels, which prompted firefighters to respond, Farry said.
Firefighters went to the four units and found carbon monoxide levels as high as 500 parts per million (ppm), Farry said.
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“That’s the kind of level that can kill you,” the fire chief said.
Federal documentation states that carbon monoxide concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm can cause disorientation, unconsciousness, and death.
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While the residents of the other units were outside, one unit still had residents inside and not answering knocks at the door.
At that point, fire crews gained access, waking the couple in their bed, Farry said.
The two residents were evaluated by medical crews and suffered no serious injuries, Farry said.
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The unit where the residents were in their bed did not have carbon monoxide detectors, the chief explained.
“The neighbor’s detector likely saved the lives of those residents and the neighbors. This could have been a tragedy,” he said.
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Firefighters spent several hours on the scene ventilating the condos of carbon monoxide, Farry said.
The high carbon monoxide concentrations were caused by a vehicle accidentally left idling overnight in a condo garage, the fire chief said.
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The incident led to Farry stressing for residents to get carbon monoxide detectors or reach out to local officials if they need one.
“It might be warm right now, but we’re heading into fall and winter,” Farry said. “We remind people with an attached garage, fossil fuel-powered hot water heater or stove to get a carbon monoxide detector.”
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