Carbon monoxide leak sickens several residents in Petaluma apartment complex

A carbon monoxide leak in a Petaluma apartment complex sent at least 12 people to the hospital late last week, the city’s fire chief said Thursday.

The leak, which affected multiple residents of the Corona Ranch Apartments complex at 990 Ely Rd. following a “gathering” at one of the apartments, was caused by a faulty stove, said Petaluma Fire Department Chief Jeff Schach in an email and follow-up phone call to the Argus-Courier.

“In total over a dozen people were seen at local hospitals with symptoms and carbon monoxide poisoning diagnosis,” Schach said. “Apartments of those affected were found to contain carbon monoxide which was discovered to be coming from the gas stovetops. All 160 units at Corona Ranch were inspected and a total of 17 faulty stoves were identified.”

Although 17 stoves in separate apartments were found to be faulty, the poisonings on Thursday, Sept. 21 were due to a single stove in an apartment where several residents had gathered, explained city Fire Marshal Jessica Power.

That stove “was the one that was causing major issues with the tenants,” Power said. The other 16 stoves in the complex were not leaking significantly, she said, but were “still over the normal range.”

All of the affected people were treated and have recovered from the poisonings, Schach said.

Carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless, can leak into residences without occupants knowing and build up in the blood, causing headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and ultimately death.

Schach said officials learned that in 2016, Eden Housing, which manages Corona Ranch, renovated both that complex and Washington Creek, another Eden property at 909 Martin Circle in Petaluma, and installed the same stoves in both properties at that time. Because of that, the Washington Creek apartments were inspected as well, and seven of those stoves were also found to be faulty, he said.

The fire chief noted that Eden – a Hayward-based nonprofit managing properties throughout California – responded quickly to the issue, removing and replacing all faulty stoves and installing carbon monoxide detectors in every apartment’s kitchen area. He also said Eden “offered hotel vouchers to the affected households and distributed $9,000 in gift cards to residents so they could purchase meals until the stoves were replaced.”

Eden Housing and the city “will be distributing information in English and Spanish on the operations of CO detectors,” he said. “City staff will also be working on a larger public education campaign on the topic.”

The leaks may have inspired Eden Housing to swap out all of its gas-powered stoves for electric ones, Schach said, as the nonprofit “is also researching and creating a plan to convert the two rental properties to all-electric. The city team has connected them with Sonoma Clean Power and will follow up to support them with their efforts.”

But for those with gas appliances in their homes, “If you feel sick in any way and it’s not normal and you’ve been cooking, then it could be associated” with carbon monoxide, Power said.

She recommended that all residents “test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, they need to be replaced every 10 years … and make sure to know your egress from your home, and where you’re going to meet up with your family. Have a plan.”

Besides Eden Housing and the Fire Department, the city’s Police Department, city inspectors, its Fire Prevention Bureau, Sonoma County Public Health inspectors and PG&E all took part in responding to the leaks, Schach said.

Don Frances is editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Reach him at don.frances@arguscourier.com.