LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLA. (WSVN) - Officials have responded to a carbon monoxide incident in Lauderdale Lakes that has sent 10 people to the hospital.
Lauderhill Fire Rescue responded to the incident near 27th Street and Northwest 34th Avenue, at 8 a.m. 7Skyforce flew over the scene where people were seen carried out on stretchers from a residential area.
Three adults and seven kids were transported by ground to Plantation General Hospital to be treated for the carbon monoxide poisoning. They have since been released from the hospital and are now home.
“It appears, since the weather was cold last night, the folks here were burning some wood inside the apartment without proper ventilation,” said Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane.
The father, Raynoe Noel, said he was trying to quickly cook a meal for seven children on a makeshift grill, using a tire rim and a pan. He said he opened up the door for ventilation. However, eventually, one-by-one, everyone started feeling dizzy.
“He fell on the floor, and he couldn’t get up, and then my dad, then me, then my other brothers, then my mom,” said one family member.
“My wife came in — same thing. Kids come in — same thing,” said Noel.
Noel called police at around 5 a.m. and paramedics rushed to the scene.
“We discourage any type of burning of any materials inside of your home. That’s improper. We never want to take barbecues inside the home,” said Kane.
The large police and fire rescue presence came as a shock to nearby residents.
“I don’t hear anything, and then I tell her, ‘I’m coming, I’m coming!'” said a resident. “She say, ‘Emergency! Emergency!’ When we come, I see a lot of police.”
Another nearby resident said she was confused and called her niece to come pick her up from the complex. “I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I see lot of police. I see firefighters, you know? I was scared because I just woke up.”
The apartment manager told 7News that the power and heater was working inside the unit. “They endangered not only themselves, but the rest of our residents,” said apartment complex agent Samantha Freeman. “Our top concern right now is our residents’ safety.”
The apartment complex managers said the unit is meant to house only five people and that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were also altered by the family.
“They’ve been pulled down. The batteries have also been removed,” said Freeman.
Noel said he’s learned a lesson after the incident.
“I cook different now,” he said.
Only the lone apartment was affected in the area.
The State Fire Marshal has taken over the investigation.
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