Plymouth, PA – Elevated levels of carbon monoxide forced the evacuation and closing of the town’s senior center Wednesday.
Firefighters discovered the elevated carbon monoxide levels after responding to a complaint about an odor of gas at the Center for Active Living shortly after 8 a.m. Fire Chief Ed Bradley said firefighter discovered a small amount of natural gas that likely purged from the basement boiler after the heating system misfired.
But while investigating, firefighters also found 50 ppm (parts per million) of carbon monoxide, an odorless gas. Bradley said the carbon monoxide vented into the building off Nook Road from the basement boiler or a rooftop heating unit. Both heating systems have been having trouble operating, Bradley said.
Carbon monoxide levels between 35 and 200 ppm over two to three hours are considered mild exposure and can produce flu-like symptoms such as headaches, sore eyes and runny nose. Longer exposure is more dangerous and firefighters are required to wear protective gear in environments with more than 30 ppm of the gas.
Bradley said seven people were evaluated by paramedics after complaining about headaches and other symptoms Wednesday morning. None required hospital treatment.
Bradley said about 35 people were evacuated from the senior center to the gymnasium of the adjacent Plymouth North High School. Evacuees were served breakfast while at the school.
Firefighters vented the building and gas company workers and a heating contractor worked on the heating system, but the building was not deemed ready for occupancy in time for a scheduled 12:30 p.m. concert by a brass quartet of the Plymouth Phil. The concert was moved to Memorial Hall.
Barry DeBlasio, the town’s director of community resources, said he hoped to have the repairs completed and the building reopened Wednesday afternoon. It would reopen Thursday morning otherwise, he said.
Bradley, meanwhile, said the incident exposes a gap in the building’s alarm system as the center has no carbon monoxide detectors. Because the building is not occupied as an overnight dwelling, building codes did not require carbon monoxide alarms in the center when it was built, Bradley said.
Bradley said he will push to install carbon monoxide detectors in the center.