Staten Island, NY – A carbon buildup in a boiler caused the emission of carbon monoxide leading to Tuesday’s evacuation of Borough Hall in St. George, said officials.
Richard Howe, the Fire Department’s Staten Island borough commander, said the fumes were spewed after the boiler was started up in the morning for the first time in the fall season.
The building was evacuated shortly after 11 a.m. and re-opened around 12:35 p.m.
No one was injured, officials said.
Initial readings showed 200 parts of carbon monoxide per million, Howe said.
Acceptable levels are below 9 parts per million, said the chief.
The building was ventilated, and re-opened after carbon monoxide readings dropped to acceptable levels, officials said.
Howe said the boiler would be repaired.
National Grid and the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Buildings Department also responded to the scene.
The evacuation forced the closure of Stuyvesant Place to traffic from Wall to Hyatt streets.