01:00 AM EST on Sunday, January 8, 2006

NORTH PROVIDENCE -- A woman and her infant were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning Friday morning after a small fire in the boiler area of a two-family house, authorities said.

Firefighters went to 12 Dora St. around 5:30 a.m. after a carbon monoxide detector roused the woman from her sleep and prompted her to telephone emergency dispatchers, said fire Lt. John Silva.

The woman and her baby were exhibiting symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning when firefighters found them in their home on the second floor, Silva said.

"We escorted them out of the house immediately," he said.

They were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released, he said. The name of the hospital was not available.

Meanwhile, firefighters noticed a haze of smoke and detected high levels of carbon monoxide. At one point, they measured carbon monoxide in concentrations of 479 parts per million. A carbon monoxide alarm is programmed to sound if it detects 30 parts per million, and concentrations of 50 parts per million are hazardous, Silva said.

In the house's basement, firefighters found a small fire. The boiler was cracked, Silva said.

Damage was confined to the boiler area and the poorly maintained boiler was the source of the fire, according to fire marshal David Vartian.

-- MARK REYNOLDS

mreynold@projo.com / (401) 277-7490