06:20 PM EST on Tuesday, March 29, 2005

By 6NEWS Staff

6NEWS

Officials believe the generator in the garage was running all night long.

Two men suffered carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday morning from a generator in the garage of an east Charlotte home.

Charlotte firefighters and Medic were called to 6426 East Lake Forest Drive around 8 a.m. One of the victims called 911 after he found the other victim unconscious.

Upon arrival firefighters determined a high level of carbon monoxide in the home.

Medic transported two men from the scene. One was transported to Carolinas Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The second patient was transported to University Hospital. His condition is not known at this time.

According to Captain Dedmon of the Charlotte Fire Department, the men used the generator to run power to the home from the garage with the garage door closed. Firefighters believe the gas generator was the home's only power source. There was no carbon monoxide detector in the home.

Duke Power confirmed they shut off the power to the house nearly two months ago when one family moved out.

Melody Greene and other neighbors said several people share the rental home. A man working driveway Tuesday said the men are friends who work in construction and sleep in the home when they need a place to stay. Duke Power said the previous tenant ordered the power to be disconnected on Feb. 1, and no one else had asked for the power to be restored.

Property records show the home is owned by a Charlotte landlord.

Firefighters said the landlord could be fined for failing to put a carbon monoxide detector in the home.

All Mecklenburg homes and apartments are required to have carbon monoxide detectors under an ordinance approved by county commissioners last year.