Fire crew evacuates apartment building after CO levels spike
About 30 residents were forced from their Beech Street apartments on Tuesday after a carbon monoxide scare.
Shortly before 2 p.m., a 911 caller reported the building's carbon monoxide alarm was sounding.
The caller also reported a strong odour of vehicle exhaust in the underground parking garage.
Firefighters arriving on the scene confirmed initial readings of 60 parts per million in the front entrance of the three-storey, multi-unit residential structure.
Firefighters suited up with protective equipment and breathing devices, and went to the building's parking garage in the basement.
Three workers were found to be operating two gas-powered pressure washers in the garage and CO readings were higher than 400 PPM.
The workers were immediately brought outside.
Firefighters proceeded to check the first and second floors of the building. They found CO readings of 25 PPM in the hallways and 30-45 PPM in the units.
Levels of 5-10 PPM were found on the third floor.
Crews evacuated the entire structure and an OC Transpo bus was brought to the scene to shelter the 30 evacuated residents.
Fire crews used high-pressure fans to ventilate the structure and continued to monitor air quality.
At 4:07 p.m., the entire structure was ventilated and the air quality was confirmed to be safe for residents to return to their units.
There were no reports of injuries.