11 Sick From Carbon Monoxide In Villa Park

(CBS) -- Eleven family members were hospitalized Sunday, after they were sickened by carbon monoxide at their home in Villa Park.

They called 911 Sunday morning when they all began to feel sick.

"We woke up, and my uncle, he passed out," said 13-year-old Gael DeSantiago.

That was the first warning something was very wrong inside the family's Villa Park house. Gael and 10 of his relatives then realized they, too, felt sick.

He said it was scary, because he didn't know what was happening at first.

"I just woke up hearing my cousins crying," he said.

The family called 911. Villa Park Fire Chief Ron Rakosnik said first responders suspected carbon monoxide might be the root of the problem, and soon found out they were right.

"They called for the engine to come in with a monitor to determine how much carbon monoxide was in the house, if any. When they got to the front door, they had 300 parts per million," he said.

In the basement, carbon monoxide levels exceeded 1000 parts per million. Rakosnik said that level could be lethal within two hours.

"We are very fortunate. They're very fortunate. We could have lost a family, up to 11 people today. I'm surprised we didn't lose one," he said.

Paramedics took eleven people, ranging in age from 6 to 61, to the hospital. The family said all were released by late afternoon.

Gael, who was just spending the night Saturday, said his family is okay, but temporarily homeless.

"They told us not to go into the house until they fix the problem," he said.

Rakosnik said the fire department does not believe the home had a carbon monoxide detector

The chief said the furnace would be checked by village officials first thing Monday morning. He says the near-tragedy is a reminder that people should have their furnaces checked this time of year.