A carbon monoxide leak prompted a late-night evacuation of 18 condo units in Fairmont Hot Springs.
Regional District of East Kootenay officials said the call came in at 12:25 a.m. on Thursday, and the fire department, RCMP and BC Ambulance jumped into action.
“Upon entry into the building, carbon monoxide levels of over 200 parts per million were detected and we immediately evacuated all 18 units,” said Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair.
“One family of five has been sent to hospital for further examination and observation. While there were no other people requiring medical care, between 30 and 50 people have been evacuated.”
The RDEK said an emergency support services (ESS) reception centre was set up at the Columbia Valley Centre in Invermere and alternate accommodations were arranged for evacuees.
“Our firefighters were able to access the impacted units to retrieve essential personal items such as medications for all those who were evacuated,” said Sinclair.
Five firefighters and two pieces of apparatus responded to the incident.
Utilities have been isolated and the propane line was shut off, but the cause of the leak remains under investigation.