At 5:25 PM on Sunday, January 18th, the Bismarck Fire Department responded to a report of several children who were feeling ill and dizzy in the pool area at 3001 N. 15th Street, the Holiday Inn Express.

Upon arrival of the first fire crew, hotel employees had already evacuated four children and two adults from the area. Firefighters and paramedics provided basic treatment for the ill children, while other crew members took a multi gas meter into the pool area to assess the air quality.

They got an alarm for high carbon monoxide immediately upon entering the area. A second fire crew arrived and assisted with further air monitoring, which indicated very high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the pool area. The surrounding areas on the same floor, and rooms above the pool area, were monitored with no readings detected. The problem was isolated to the pool area. The boiler for heating the pool was located in an adjacent room, and was suspected as being the source. It was shut down, and the area was ventilated by fire crews. Levels decreased, and crews stayed on scene until the carbon monoxide had been cleared.

Four children and two adult guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Two hotel employees were also taken in for observation, as a precaution, since they had been in the area to assist the guests.