High level of carbon monoxide forces evacuation at Carriage House
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009 | 0 comments
Somers Point - One building in the Carriage House apartment complex was evacuated for several hours Wednesday night as officials investigated a high level of carbon monoxide and a possible gas leak.....Continue Reading
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Residents, some wrapped in white blankets provided by the rescue squad to protect them against a chilly evening and a light drizzle, waited in the courtyard for permission to re-enter their apartments.
Fire Chief Frank Denan said the department received a call from a resident about a strange odor in the D building and arrived at about 6:45 p.m. Firefighters detected a strong odor resembling petroleum or gasoline as soon as they opened the door.
"We brought our meters in and had high levels of carbon monoxide" in the entire building and ordered it evacuated, Denan said.
There was a strong odor in the crawl space of the building and the attic had a concentration of carbon monoxide, Denan said. The building's gas supply was shut off and no one was in danger.
A county hazmat team was double-checking the building for a possible leak and for carbon-monoxide levels, Denan said.
Building D resident Annette Litman said she was preparing to play some music and bake a cake for her upcoming birthday, when she looked out the window and saw two fire trucks. She went about her business until a fire official asked to come inside to check for gas. She was then told to leave her apartment.
"I grabbed my keys, put the cake in the refrigerator, grabbed my sneakers and I've been outside since 7 o'clock," Litman said as 9 p.m. drew near.
Litman hoped she would be allowed back inside soon, as she had to be at work in Mays Landing at 9 a.m. today.
Resident Yolanda Bailey said a friend called her at about 6:30 p.m. and said the Fire Department and other rescuers were on their way to investigate a gas leak.
"We're just cooling our heels, just hanging out," waiting to be allowed back inside, Bailey said.
All residents except those in the original reporting apartment were allowed back into their units shortly before 11 p.m., according to reports on the police radio.
