Virginia Beach, VA – More than 70 people were evacuated from a Va. Beach hotel because of a carbon monoxide leak.
The guests and employees at Home Wood Suites on Cleveland Street were moved to a nearby hotel after firefighters arrived around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators say several floors of the six-story hotel registered high levels of carbon monoxide. They determined the problem was a faulty natural gas heater on the roof that heated the common areas of the hotel.
Carbon Monoxide levels reached 50 parts per million. This is considered high and unsafe for long term exposure, but not high enough to cause immediate health concerns for short term exposure, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley.
Firefighters spent about three hours airing out the hotel and it’s now back in operation.
Riley said the hotel did not have carbon monoxide detectors because they weren’t required at the time it was built.
Buildings constructed since 2009 need CO detectors, he stated.
Early signs of Carbon Monoxide poisoning mimics Flu-like symptoms: nausea, vomiting, headaches, and flushed skin. More severe exposure will cause confusion, drowsiness, seizures, unconsciousness & unresponsiveness and death.