Another carbon monoxide leak in Airdrie building where 12-year-old died

Firefighters rushed to an Airdrie apartment complex for the second time in a week to deal with a carbon monoxide leak.

A resident of the large, four-storey complex at 700 Willowbrook Road had a carbon mon oxide detector goof fin her main-level apartment at 12:14 a.m. Friday and called the fire department fromthe lobby.

Fire crews found elevated levels of the deadly gas in the immediate area and activated the alarm system to evacuate residents.

Firefighters cut the gas to the apartment, and with the help of ATCO crews, cleared away the carbon monoxide.

“The cause of this incident was the failure of the on-demand water heater to vent properly,” a statement from the Airdrie Fire Department said.

After 2½ hours, residents were allowed to return to their homes, some carrying carbon monoxide detectors given to them by the fire department.

It was only Sunday that 12-yearold Trai Schlichter died of a carbon monoxide overdose after a leak in the same building.

First responders found Trai and took him outside for medical assistance, then evacuated the building’s 136 units.

Ultimately, only Trai and his parents were taken to hospital. He later died in hospital.

The cause of that incident was also a faulty water heater.

The fire department is calling on residents to have their gas appliances and venting systems checked.

Friday’s carbon monoxide-related visit by fire crews has put even more strain on residents of the condominium complex, still reeling from Trai’s death.

Sarah Gillespie, who’s lived in the complex since October, said Friday’s evacuation added to the apprehension felt by her and her neighbours.

“It’s been a pretty stressful and emotional week,” she said.

“Last night just kind of topped it all off.”

While the condo management company has been communicating with residents about the situation, Gillespie said it’s up to the individual unit owners to make sure everything is checked.

Residents say the detector that

The cause of this incident was the failure of the on-demand water heater to vent properly.

triggered Friday’s alarm was one of the units handed out to residents by fire crews after Sunday’s tragedy.

Feeling somewhat at ease after a Friday-afternoon inspection by ATCO of her unit’s water heater, she’s putting her faith in carbon monoxide detectors — installing one given to her by inspection crews in her son’s bedroom.

“It’s scary not knowing if you are safe in your own home,” she said.

“It’s hard to sleep well.”