3 Adults, 2 Kids Hospitalized After Carbon Monoxide Leak in Bala Cynwyd

A carbon monoxide leak caused five residents of a Bala Cynwyd apartment building to be hospitalized Tuesday morning, Lower Merion Fire Chief Chas McGarvey said.

McGarvey said investigators determined a malfunction in a building-wide heater, "kind of a freak thing," had caused gas to course through the at Conshohocken State Road and Llanberris Road.

An alarm went off about 8:45 a.m., but some residents did not evacuate until firefighters knocked on their doors.

Resident Stephanie Bell was one of those, she said, as were her neighbors: three adults and two children who were heavily affected by the gas and taken away by ambulance. One of the children was found unconscious on the lawn, Bell said.

Identities and conditions of those hospitalized were not immediately available Tuesday morning. Another affected resident refused medical treatment, McGarvey said.

Four connected buildings have five units apiece, McGarvey said. All residents were allowed to return to their homes by 10 a.m.

The Llanberris Apartments complex, most recently assessed at $755,700, was built in 1960 and is owned by the Marks & Co. chain.

"Marks is a reputable company. They have apartments throughout the township," McGarvey said. 

Responders included , Gladwyne, and Union Fire Companies and Narberth Ambulance.

Check back throughout the day for updates as they become available.

Patch editor Danielle Vickery contributed to this report.