Calgary fire evacuates 62 from southeast complex after carbon monoxide spike

Calgary firefighters evacuated 62 people from a three-storey multi-unit residential complex in the 2700 block of 12 Avenue SE early Thursday after detecting peak carbon monoxide levels above 150 ppm, the Calgary Fire Department said.¹

Crews were dispatched at around 5 a.m. after a resident called 9-1-1 because their unit's CO alarm was active. On entry, firefighters reported a strong exhaust odour in the building.¹

The department said any level above 50 ppm is considered dangerous, so firefighters activated the building fire alarm to get everyone out. Calgary Transit sent two buses to the scene to provide warm shelter, and 62 people boarded them while other occupants self-evacuated to other areas on their own. No injuries were reported.¹

Firefighters traced the source to a rooftop ventilation unit and shut off the gas to it. ATCO Gas attended and confirmed the source, and crews ventilated the building until no CO levels were detected.¹

The department determined it was safe for everyone to re-occupy the building and turned responsibility back over to the property manager.¹

The Calgary Fire Department said working carbon monoxide alarms save lives, as was the case in this morning's incident. It said the most common source of CO in a home is the furnace, but any household appliance that runs on fuel, such as natural gas, propane or a fireplace, can also produce the gas.¹

As weather cools, the department said vehicles become another common source. It advised never idling a vehicle inside an enclosed space such as a garage or near a building's air inlets.¹

A CO alarm repeating a four-beeping pattern means it has detected carbon monoxide, and everyone should get out and call 9-1-1, the department said. Residents should tell the Emergency Communications Officer if anyone is experiencing symptoms of CO exposure.¹

The department said alarms should be installed on every level of a home, including the basement, and placed near bedrooms so people can hear them while they sleep. They can be bought at hardware stores, and the department cautioned residents to make sure any alarms ordered online meet Canadian safety standards.¹

As part of Fire Prevention Week, the Calgary Fire Department and ATCO will visit homes in the Temple community on Oct. 8 to offer to install, test and replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and to remind residents about using lithium-ion batteries safely.¹