The cause of a carbon monoxide leak that sent nearly four dozen people to Winnipeg hospitals was likely due to inadequate ventilation.
Forty-six people were taken to hospital Tuesday morning after a carbon monoxide leak at the Super 8 hotel on Portage Avenue. Fifty-two were evacuated from the hotel, along with one dog.
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Fifteen of those people were considered to be in critical condition due to the levels of carbon monoxide in their systems, said Fire Chief John Lane.
The investigation is still ongoing, said Chuck Steele of Manitoba Hydro, but he said the cause of the build up of carbon monoxide appears to be inadequate ventilation of the hotel’s gas-powered appliances.
In a statement Super 8 says it will cooperate fully with the investigation.
As of Wednesday morning, no one was left waiting in hospital.
The hotel last passed inspection in 2017, and was due for another inspection in 2020. The carbon monoxide alarm in the hotel’s boiler room went off, said Lane, and the alert was sent to the hotel’s alarm company, which called in emergency personnel.
Lane said Wednesday that the WFPS responded to 708 carbon monoxide incidents in 2018, but no one was seriously hurt.
Customers should have no concerns about staying at the hotel, said Steele.
“Yes, it is safe to be staying there,” he said, but added the gas to the hotel remains off.
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On Tuesday, one couple said they weren’t told by the hotel before they got there about the emergency.
“I’m kind of thinking that they would sort of, want to… give a heads up, sort of thing,” they said.
“Now we have to find a new place.”
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