Manchester, NH – A carbon monoxide leak sickened 10 people at a strip mall across from the Mall of New Hampshire on Friday.
Several businesses, including a U.S. Army recruiting office and a dental office, were evacuated about 10:30 a.m. from the plaza at 1525 South Willow St., authorities said.
The situation was “potentially life-threatening,” said District Fire Chief Michael Gamache.
Fire and EMS crews evaluated people who complained of nausea and/or headaches. No one was hospitalized.
The source of the carbon monoxide was from a rooftop HVAC unit, which was disabled, Gamache said.
We were there yesterday for the same thing, he said.
Thursday’s leak was blamed on the same HVAC unit. No one was reported sick Thursday. Gamache said.
On Friday, a carbon monoxide detector went off in the office of Dental & Dentures of Manchester, which alerted the fire department at 10:30 a.m.
The dental office along with the U.S. Army recruiting office, Suley’s Soccer Center, Beautiful Nails and Lots For Tots were all evacuated, Gamache said.
Anna Baum, who works at Suley’s Soccer Center, said firefighters asked her to leave her store as a precaution for 30 to 45 minutes
A little concerned, but the firemen, they’re awesome, said Baum.
Gamache said the only business that had CO alarms was the dental office.
People in adjacent businesses were unaware of the presence of CO until fire crews entered their store, he said.
He encouraged owners of homes and businesses to install carbon monoxide detectors.
More than 500 people in the United States die yearly from unexpected exposure from carbon monoxide, according to Gamache.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas that is produced by devices that burn fuel.