HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) - Ravalli County jail officials say propane exhaust from a boiler sickened a number of inmates and guards, and three were treated and released at a hospital.
Authorities said Thursday inmates reported a bad odor in the jail’s west block at 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, and detention officers found several inmates suffering from headaches, nausea and burning eyes.
Inmates were evacuated to the jail library and medical staff were called.
When the exhaust leak was discovered, the boiler was shut down and the area was ventilated. After carbon monoxide levels were checked, the inmates were returned to the west block.
Two detention officers and one inmate were treated and released at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital.
County maintenance workers are looking into the cause of the leak.
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