Upper Darby officials condemn home after 3 people poisoned by carbon monoxide

A pad lock and wooden boards blocked entry into a condemned home in Upper Darby where three people, including two children, were found unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Ten people were inside the home on Saturday night when first responders were called to the home on the 200 block of Kingston Street.

Officials say a woman and two children were found unconscious inside the home and were rushed to the hospital, where they were successfully treated by medical personnel.

Firefighters say the carbon monoxide level inside the house was 1,400 parts per million, about 156 times above what’s generally considered a safe amount.

“That’s an insane amount of carbon monoxide,” said Chief Nick Martin of the Upper Darby Fire Department. “I don’t ever recall hearing that amount. Its amazing that the average person would not just lose consciousness in seconds.”

NBC10 spoke to some of the victims who did not want to go on camera, but they say someone came to fix their heater the morning of the incident.

Later on Saturday, a 10-year-old old boy complained of dizziness and his mother found him unconscious in the shower.

The victims who spoke to NBC10 also said a 2-year-old and her mother also had a seizure.

Their symptoms are what alerted others that something was wrong.

Fire officials said an investigation into what happened continues on Monday night, but a deteriorating chimney flu cap was the source of the gas leak.

“Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion,” Martin said. “So basically anything that burns something can create carbon monoxide. So your wood burning fire place, any gas appliance, anything like that. It’s a odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are 40,000 carbon monoxide poison cases in the U.S. every year, with about 500 people killed.

Headache, Dizziness, nausea and lethargy are all early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

First responders said people should have their heating units inspected once a year and install carbon monoxide detectors to help from becoming a victim.

“The bottom line is if you’re not feeling well, and you have gas appliance in your home, you should be highly suspicious of that,” Martin said. “And if you’re ever in any doubt, call 911 and have your local fire department respond. We all have the meters to check for that and that’s what we’re here for.”

As for the home condemned in Upper Darby, officials told NBC10 that the home did not have a carbon monoxide alarm and the landlord was operating without a license to rent.

NBC10 called the property owner, who has a Brooklyn address, but they have not gotten back to us.