HOUSTON – Several people were taken to three Houston hospitals Monday night after carbon monoxide exposure at a fruit and vegetable processing center in southeast Houston.
The exposure happened just after 4:30 p.m. at the Hardie Fresh Foods processing center on Produce Row.
"They had a number of people outside the building experiencing nausea, headache, dizziness -- typical signs of carbon monoxide exposure," said HFD Deputy Chief Blake White.
Houston Fire officials said 29 people were taken for treatment to Memorial Hermann Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Southeast and St. Joseph's Hospital.
A spokesperson for Memorial Hermann said they had 21 patients at their Texas Medical Center location. Eleven of them were listed in serious condition, 10 were in fair condition. Four others were at the southeast location and were in good condition. All patients were released early Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for St. Joseph's said the four patients treated there tested negative for carbon monoxide. Three patients were released while another was being treated for an unrelated issue.
Investigators said the carbon monoxide came from exhaust emitted by a piece of gas-fueled equipment that an outside contractor was using inside an enclosed space in the building.
HFD said the business would need to bring in an environmental hygienist to check the CO2 levels and that it would likely not reopen for 24 hours.
Hardie Fresh Foods sent a statement Tuesday afternoon that read, "A third party contractor was working in an adjacent facility not owned or operated by Hardie."