Eight treated after carbon monoxide leak at Poplar Bluff business

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ozark Fitness was closed for five hours Tuesday after its pool heater caused a carbon monoxide leak, which resulted in eight people needing medical treatment.

The Poplar Bluff Fire Department responded at 8:07 a.m. to Ozark Fitness, 2705 N. Westwood Blvd.

When firefighters arrived, they used a carbon monoxide meter and found level at 800 parts per million.

"That's extremely hazardous," according to fire chief Ralph Stucker. "This was a real hazardous deal. ... The pool heater caused the levels to be so high.

"Something failed in their system."

The pool area, Stucker said, was where the highest levels were found.

"When we came into the foyer, it got up to 150 right in there. The levels were pretty high," Stucker said.

Stucker said Capt. Roy Lane evacuated the building and notified Missouri Natural Gas about the situation.

"Until the gas company got there, we kept the building closed, so they could go in and figure out exactly where it was coming from," Stucker said.

"As soon as it was determined the heater was the problem, the gas company shut the gas off to the building."

The pool heater, Stucker said, was the only gas appliance in the facility.

Stucker said ventilation fans were used to get all the carbon monoxide out of the building.

Mandy Eddy said the facility was closed for about five hours.

"The fire department came and cleared it to reopen, and we ventilated the facility," she said.

Pertinent address:

2705 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO