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3 Hospitalized After Wilmerding Apartment Complex Carbon Monoxide Leak

WILMERDING (KDKA) - Half of the units of a Wilmerding apartment complex had some sort of issue with carbon monoxide leaking in the overnight hours.

All of the residents are not permitted to return until the issue is fixed.

Three of them had to be taken to the hospital and the apartment manager said he will not rest until this is fixed.

"I can't sleep. I [have to] get this done," Property Manager Jeff Schnars said.

Several hours after high levels of carbon monoxide forced numerous tenants from 18 units along Caldwell Street, Schnars was working with the furnace and maintenance men to remedy the problem.

Three people suffered nausea, vomiting and severe exhaustion as a result of the leak. However, they were treated and released from UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

Schars said new detectors may have saved lives in this case.

"We've been putting the carbon monoxide detectors in for the last couple of months. The owner of this building takes care of this building and of his people so it's no problem, we'll fix it," Schars said.

The fire marshal red-tagged the building and said the gas company will do a camera inspection.

He's stressing the importance of carbon monoxide detectors and for others to get their furnaces checked out.

"Over the wintertime, a lot of animals like to rest inside of chimneys to get warm. Sometimes it causes blockages. Sometimes the vent from the hot water tank isn't secured properly to the chimney," Wilmerding Fire Marshal Al Hussey said.

The apartment complex is putting up seven of its residents at a local hotel in Monroeville.

The other residents are staying with family.

The apartment manager says he hopes to have this issue resolved by tonight.

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