By: Dana Klosner Wehner
The Elmont Fire District was alerted to a gas leak by a 911 call at 8 a.m. Wednesday on Bitmore Avenue in Elmont.
"Upon arrival a lot of people were walking out," said second assistant chief James Prince. A total of 14 people were transported to Nassau County Medical Center. Their ages were as young as a 5-day-old to a person 70 or 80-years-old. The department can't confirm if all 14 people lived in the house. Units from Floral Park, Franklin Square and the Nassau County police arrived on the scene as well. In all, 45 responders were on the scene.
Prince said the department measured 125 parts per million of carbon monoxide, well over the acceptable limit of 20 parts per million.
"The leak seems like it came from a gas burner," Prince said. "We shut everything down and the levels went down to zero."
Prince said the malfunction probably was a problem with a gas heater. "We've seen problems where they have had service a week ago," Prince said.
After the fire department shut down the burner they shut down the main source to the burner. Then they vented the house, opening all the windows and all the doors and the levels went down to zero.
Prince said it's important that all homes have carbon monoxide detectors.
"There were no alarms ringing when we arrived," Prince said. "The only reason they called was they were feeling sick."
Prince said he has received no official reports on the condition of the 14 people.
It's also recommended that batteries be changed in carbon monoxide detectors twice a year. Heating systems should be serviced once a year.
