An Airdrie apartment complex where a 12-year-old boy died on Sunday has been the scene of another carbon monoxide incident today (February 9).

At 12:14 am this morning, Airdrie Fire Department crews were called to the four-story complex located at 700 Willowbrook Road for a possible carbon monoxide leak.  

Deputy Fire Chief Ken Hubbard says when crews arrived they were told by a resident that the carbon monoxide detector inside her main level apartment had activated.  When she heard the alarm she self-evacuated to the safety of the building's lobby area.

Firefighters entered the apartment and detected elevated CO readings that were concentrated to the immediate area.  The building complex's alarm system was activated by the fire crews to warn residents of the problem and a full evacuation was ordered with evacuees being safely sheltered on site.

The gas supply in the apartment was isolated and crews launched ventilation efforts to clear the CO.  The AFD, along with a member of the ATCO Emergency Response Team determined the cause of the incident, which Hubbard explained.  "The carbon monoxide from this particular leak was found to come from their heating appliance from hot water as well.  A different situation than the previous one we had last weekend, but again, carbon monoxide that wasn't properly ventilating to the outside."

After two and a half hours the air quality in the building was deemed safe and residents were allowed to return to their units.  The Fire Department gave a number of residents carbon monoxide detectors to install in their apartments.  

Last Sunday, the same apartment complex was the scene of a previous carbon monoxide leak.  12-year-old Trai Michael Schlichter was overcome by the gas and later died.  That tragic incident was also traced to a hot water tank pipe that leaked carbon monoxide into the apartment. 

Funeral services for Trai will be held tomorrow at 2:00 pm at the Airdrie Alliance Church.  A candlelight vigil is planned for 6:00 pm on Sunday at Nose Creek Park.

Hubbard says that the two incidents, and all carbon monoxide leaks, are concerning to the Fire Department.  "Anytime carbon monoxide is found inside a structure is of concern.  What we try to do through education as well as ensuring the proper devices are in place that the building is put back into a safe condition where people can feel comfortable being in the building and having working carbon monoxide detectors. I guess the big point we'd like to emphasize is prudent at this point for any residents that may have concerns about their appliances or the maintenance of their appliances to have them inspected and make sure they're functioning properly so that they can be ensured that there shouldn't be any carbon monoxide in their residential areas.  And to make sure they have carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly, they're tested monthly and make sure they're operational."

Hubbard says it's now up to the occupant of the apartment and building managers to have maintenance and service technicians make sure the ventilation problem is taken care of.   

 

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