Six women were taken to an area hospital for treatment after an illegal hot-water heater hookup in a beauty salon apparently led to elevated carbon monoxide levels in a South Loop building Wednesday night, officials said.
The women were all at the beauty salon at 1020 S. Wabash Ave. when a carbon monoxide leak was discovered about 9 p.m., according to the Chicago Fire Department’s media office. The building, which also includes apartments, was evacuated as fire officials called for a hazardous materials response because of reports of fumes making people ill.
Those made ill by the carbon monoxide leak were taken to area hospitals in fair to serious condition, officials said.
An Emergency Medical Services Plan 1, which sends at least six ambulances to a scene, was called as precautionary measure for the incident, said Commander Frank Velez, a fire spokesman. When firefighters arrived, they found elevated carbon monoxide levels of 300 parts per million but ventilated and decreased the levels significantly in the eight-story residential building, he said.
The hot water heater was poorly vented and firefighters shut it off, officials said. An investigation is ongoing.
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