Carbon monoxide poisoning hospitalizes 5 in Vancouver

Five people were transported to hospital early Wednesday morning after a carbon monoxide leak at a home on Vancouver's West Side.

Fire crews were called to the home on the 2700 block of West 34th Avenue near Larch Street just after midnight.

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When they arrived they found two adults and three children sitting on the front step, dizzy and semi-unconscious.

One individual was rushed to hospital, while the other four were treated at the home and then taken to hospital.

The Vancouver Hazmat Team shut down the furnace and residential gas service to the home, suspecting a leak, said Cpt. Carol Messenger of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.

"Before the family can come back into the home they'll have to have their furnaces and appliances and whatever is in the home serviced and make sure they're not leaking," she said.

"Carbon monoxide is a gas, that doesn't smell, it doesn't give you any indication it's around,"

That's why the fire department recommends all homeowners install a carbon monoxide alarm, in addition to their smoke alarm, said Messenger.

Officials have not said whether there was a carbon monoxide detector in the home.