Seven hospitalized after carbon monoxide discovered in Marion apartment building

MARION — Seven people were taken to the hospital Friday morning after carbon monoxide was discovered in an apartment building in Marion, the Marion Fire Department said.

Crews were called at 12:13 a.m. to 560 Bentley Dr. for a medical call. First responders quickly realized the medical issue was related to carbon monoxide that was affecting people in the building, and they began evacuating residents, a news release states.

The carbon monoxide was determined to have come from a faulty water heater that served the apartment building. The fire department originally believed it came from a smoldering fire in one of the apartments, but a later release stated the water heater was the cause. The cause of the fire, which had self-extinguished, is under investigation.

One of the seven people taken to the hospital was transported to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for further treatment. The others had been released from the hospital as of Friday afternoon. There were also some small pets affected by the carbon monoxide, according to the release.

The Marion Fire Department was assisted by the Marion Police Department, Cedar Rapids Fire Department, Area Ambulance and Hiawatha Fire and Ambulance.

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