Jay Olstad

MILWAUKEE - A scary scene Saturday morning as a dozen people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, including four firefighters.

It happened on Milwaukee's south side near 34th and Oklahoma.

St. Luke's Hospital officials say eight people are being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.

It all started around 6:30 Saturday morning at a duplex.

Milwaukee police received a 911 call but then the caller hung up. When fire fighters arrived on scene they saw eight people inside dizzy and disoriented, all suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Definitely toxic, definitely lethal," said Battalion Chief Richard Wahlgren.

It was so bad...he says they normally evacuate when co levels reach 30 parts per million. This house had 1500.

"From what I understand, a car was left running in a garage and it ran so long it literally ran out of gas and back filled the entire home with carbon monoxide," said Wahlgren

It's not a surprise to neighbor Joe Schell.

"There's a lot of people who live there and they're doing a lot of work on their cars," he said.

We Energies was called to the scene because officials thought there maybe a gas leak. It turns out that wasn't the case, but officials say it's been a busy year for carbon monoxide calls.

"There's no question this snow and the cold we've had has contributed to more calls," said We Energies spokesperson Brian Manthey

It's why fire fighters are pleading with people to get a carbon monoxide detector because one day it could save your life.

Meantime, the fire fighters exposed are okay.

The eight people being treated range in ages from 19 to 43. And investigators say their house did not have any working carbon monoxide detectors

For questions concerning natural gas and safety concerns, call We Energies at 800-261-5325.