Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) is calling for action after a carbon monoxide alarm went off at a Jersey City Housing Authority building this week.
“This is a serious situation that requires immediate attention. The safety of residents is our top priority, and we are working quickly to address the issue and ensure this does not happen again,” O’Dea, a Jersey City mayoral candidate, said in a statement.
“I call on our Housing Executive Director to address this immediately and repair whatever is causing the CO contamination immediately. That includes the replacement of any boilers, furnaces or other apparatus that could threaten the health and safety of the seniors in this building.”
The alarm, which was triggered on the main level, prompted immediate action to assess the situation and ensure the safety of those in the building.
Officials are evaluating the building’s heating system, and discussions are underway about how to prevent future incidents. Carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, poses a severe risk, particularly for seniors.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any signs of CO exposure, including dizziness, headaches, or nausea. Those with concerns should contact building management or emergency services immediately, O’Dea added.
On March 20th, the Jersey City Fire Department responded and used carbon monoxide detectors to check the entire building and no carbon monoxide was detected, according to city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.
In addition, the responding firefighters observed the building’s superintendent installing new carbon monoxide detectors in that apartment and other apartments while the fire department was on scene.
Then on March 24th, the Jersey City FD units arrived at apartment 110. They detected carbon monoxide in the apartment and secured the boiler with a building representative before PSE&G was called to respond and provided repairs.
During both visits, no injuries were reported, Wallace-Scalcione noted.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.