FAIRBANKS (AP) -- Carbon monoxide and smoke leaked into about 20 homes during a training exercise by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Fire Department.
Authorities were alerted to the problem after alarms in some of the homes sounded early Sunday morning.
The carbon monoxide and smoke passed through a utilidor system when three houses were burned by university firefighters during a training exercise Saturday.
After some of the house alarms went off, firefighters began waking up residents at about 4 a.m. Sunday, according to University fire Chief Edie Curry.
The highest recorded level was 56 parts per million. Seventy is the lowest level that is considered dangerous, but Curry said the smoke could have affected people with health conditions.
Workers from the university power plant used plastic sheeting to close off the utilidor system from the three houses that were burned, but smoke leaked through and filtered into some of the duplexes and two single-family homes, Curry said.
The utilidor access was taped shut and windows were opened to air the houses out.
``It was very uncomfortable smelling,'' said Dennis Hochstetler, a university student who lives with his wife, Robyn, and their six children in a house identical to those burned Saturday.
The carbon monoxide alarm that was installed in their home just days prior to the training exercise didn't sound off, he said.
Robyn Hochstetler said she was more concerned with the debris that was left burning after the training. She said there were flames coming out of the basement of the house next to them.
Curry said the firefighters checked on the rubble throughout the night.
The three 42-year-old homes were used in the exercise because they were in need of repairs that weren't cost effective.
New housing has been planned for the area, Curry said.
