A boiler room in a Saskatoon apartment building had a carbon monoxide reading of 400 parts per million, and didn’t have carbon monoxide sensors.  That from the Saskatoon Fire Department who say the building at 12 Bateman Crescent, was evacuated Thursday night after Dr. Wahba at City Hospital attended to patients with carbon monoxide exposure symptoms, and alerted the fire department.

Saskatoon Fire Chief, Morgan Hackl, says when firefighters find a CO reading of 50 parts per million they ask people to evacuate a building.  Hackl says at 200 parts per million, firefighters require self contained breathing apparatuses, to evacuate the building.  He adds that a reading of Thursday’s magnitude, of over 400 parts per million can cause death within 2-3 hours of exposure.

Assistant Fire Chief, Public Relations and Community Risk Reduction, Yvonne Raymer, says a fire investigator collaborated with SaskEnergy gas investigators to find a deficiency in the boiler system.  She says  SaskEnergy reports there was improper venting from the boiler.

As of Friday, people from 19 suites had been evacuated from the builindg and 12 Bateman Crescent remains closed.  Another building in the complex (20 Bateman Crescent) has been inspected and also closed because of another faulty boiler.  Assistant Chief Raymer confirmed there were no carbon monoxide sensors in the buildings, but the property owner is in discussions with SaskEnergy on where the appropriate places to place them would be.  Chief Hackl explains it is possible the building would not have been required by building code to have detectors because of it’s age, as it was not mandatory before 2010 National Building Code revisions.

Since Thursday night 27 people were transported to hospital and 20 others have sought medical attention.  The Salvation Army and Saskatoon Transit had assisted in relocating residents on Thursday night.

Fire Chief Hackl recommended that all homes have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and to take the following steps:

• Ensure gas equipment and appliances are properly installed, maintained, and inspected by a licensed contractor, 
• Keep furnace, water heater, chimney vents and pipes free of obstructions, such as leaves, debris or nests and frost, snow, and ice in winter months 
• Follow manufacturer directions for proper operation and care of all heating equipment and appliances, 
• Only use generators, barbeques and portable propane heaters outside, and 
• Never leave a vehicle or fuelled engine running while indoors.