Norfolk, MA – About 10 patrons and employees were evacuated from the Norfolk Public Library Tuesday afternoon after a gas odor was smelled, and the library was closed for the rest of the day and night.
Firefighters responded to the library about 3 p.m., noticed a slight gas odor at the gas meters outside the building, then called Columbia Gas, Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell said.
Firefighters entering the library at the basement door immediately encountered elevated levels of carbon monoxide, Bushnell said.
Higher readings were detected farther into the basement, enough to cause health problems such as headaches if exposure lasted three hours or longer, Bushnell said.
“Staff and patrons were not in danger, given the carbon monoxide did not enter the main floor,” he said.
It took about 45 minutes for fans to vent the gas, the fire chief said.
nitial observations indicated the building’s boilers were not operating properly, Bushnell said, and the town’s building commissioner and other employees were contacted.
The library, which was supposed to be open until 7:30 p.m., was closed until Wednesday as a precaution, the chief said.