MARGATE, Fla. – Multiple people were taken to local hospitals early Thursday morning after Margate police say there were higher than normal levels of carbon monoxide inside a home.
Police and fire rescue crews responded to the home in the 4900 block of Southwest Fifth Court around 2:30 a.m. after receiving a call about a man who was feeling dizzy and then became unresponsive.
“Crews arrived. They found a generator being used inside the house,” Margate Fire Marshal David Scholl said.
The generator is believed to have filled the home with a dangerous level of carbon monoxide.
The people inside the home, which included adults and children, were all rushed to the hospital.
“They all were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning,” Scholl said. “They had nine patients total -- five adults and four juveniles -- all were transported to various hospitals around the local area.”
Neighbor Raul Pedraza said he’s concerned about what happened. He said he also has a portable generator but keeps his outside.
“I always keep it outside,” he said. “Maybe because it was raining, they put it inside. That’s my guess.”
The fire marshal confirmed that all nine people from the home are stable.
“I can not stress enough not to use a portable generator inside the home,” Scholl said.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is often deadly. The hazardous gas can be created by a number of appliances, not just portable generators.
“Everyone should have a working carbon monoxide detector inside their home, especially if they have an attached garage or a gas appliance,” Scholl said.
It’s unclear why the home didn’t have power at the time.