Huntsville, AL – A faulty hood vent led to a potentially dangerous carbon monoxide situation at Bruegger’s at 2000 Cecil Ashburn Dr. in Huntsville Monday morning.
Huntsville firefighters heard about the problem shortly after 7:30 a.m. Huntsville Fire & Rescue spokesman Capt. Frank McKenzie said they immediately got high readings for carbon monoxide.
They shut off the gas and evacuated the building. The restaurant was aired out while crews ventilated it with fans. Bruegger’s remained closed the rest of the day.
McKenzie said people involved first became aware of the problem after one man drove himself to the emergency room Sunday night. He said this person experienced symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision and shortness of breath.
HEMSI transported two more people from the restaurant to the hospital Monday morning. Their conditions are not yet known.
The problem was traced back to the restaurant’s hood vent. McKenzie said its motor was out.
Bruegger’s manager Emily Griffin said the vent is now fixed and the gas is back on. Bruegger’s will reopen Tuesday at 5:30 a.m.