Van fumes overcome firefighters, paramedics

SEATTLE – Thirteen people, including six Seattle Fire Department firefighters and two paramedics, were taken to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center to be treated for headaches and dizziness because of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson says 10 people were treated and released, including the six firefighters and the two paramedics. Gregg-Hanson says the other three people were admitted to the hospital and are listed in satisfactory condition.

Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick says the fumes came from a van left running in the garage of a three-story apartment building in north Seattle, at 125th NE and 35th Ave. NE.

Fitzpatrick says firefighters first responded to a report at 11:14 a.m. Monday that a woman had fallen in the lobby. They discovered the problem with fumes when they arrived.

Fitzpatrick says the van was left running by workers cleaning carpet.

Firefighters ventilated the building and monitored the air.