Fumes Poison 13 in Casino; Boiler Seal Blamed

A faulty propane boiler seal was blamed Tuesday for the carbon monoxide poisoning of 13 people and the evacuation of 500 other patrons of the Stateline Hotel-Casino, a Nevada health official reported.

“It turned out to be not as bad as originally thought,” said Larry Matheis, Nevada Division of Health administrator.

He said the faulty basement boiler used to heat water was directly under an air-conditioning duct that sucked up the deadly gas and pumped it into the resort’s casino area.

Carbon monoxide levels reached 200 parts per million, four times the maximum humans can tolerate, Matheis said.

A second boiler was fired up and the hotel-casino was allowed to reopen. Matheis said health experts will monitor the situation overnight.

Steve Perry, assistant general manager, said the casino was back in operation early Tuesday evening. Wendover is on Interstate 80 in northeast Nevada near the Utah border.

The Stateline was evacuated late Monday, when some patrons began complaining of shortness of breath, chest pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Thirty people were stricken and 13 required treatment in Salt Lake City hospitals. Twelve were admitted, hospital officials said.

Ten of the patients were sent to the University of Utah Health Services Center, where spokesman John Dwan said tests found high levels of carbon monoxide in their blood. They were listed in satisfactory condition after treatment with oxygen.

One of the other three patients was treated at another hospital and the other two were in fair condition.

The hotel-casino, which has 248 rooms, was full because races were being held at the Bonneville Salt Flats near the Utah-Nevada border, said Willy Diddens, hotel security chief.

Wendover draws most of its gambling clientele from the Salt Lake City area.