Washington Heights Building Partially Evacuated, 5 Hospitalized, Due To Carbon Monoxide
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The freezing, icy weather Monday night was blamed for a carbon monoxide leak that led to the partial evacuation of a building in Washington Heights, and sent at least five people to an area hospital.
The FDNY responded to the building at 163rd Street and Fort Washington Avenue for the incident, officials told CBS2 just after 9 p.m. Streets were shut down near the scene.
The high carbon monoxide concentration sickened three people who had to be hospitalized, and at least 100 people had to be evacuated from at least three floors, the FDNY said.
Late Tuesday night, many residents were still out in the cold, CBS2's Valerie Castro reported.
The FDNY said a burning Con Edison cable under the street caused the carbon monoxide leak, the FDNY said.
Residents said they smelled the strong odor of gas, and a few minutes later, fire crews were at their doors asking them to evacuate.
"A few people got sick and were throwing up, and they got taken out in their chairs and masks," said resident Kimberly Dilone. "I felt really unsafe, to be honest, because I have a brother and sister and my grandparents. It was, like, really unsafe, and then to be out here in the cold -- it's crazy."
The FDNY said if residents had working carbon monoxide detectors and they were not going off, they were allowed to go back inside.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses were requested to keep residents warm, the FDNY said.
CBS2 was told it could be several hours before all the residents were allowed to return.