On Friday afternoon as the semester ended and most students were beginning to head out of town, the Alphas were dispatched to 418 East College Ave for a Carbon Monoxide alarm with no patients.  541 (Kurzinger) and Engine 510 arrived on scene with a 4 story mixed apartment and retail building and began a routine investigation. As crews proceeded, CO readings were found to be at dangerous levels.

Further investigation revealed that high levels of CO were present on every floor and in ever apartment throughout the building.  Nearly all of the residents were unaware of the situation and 510’s crew began a full scale evacuation.  At that point, 541 added Rescue 518 and Centre Life Link EMS to the box.

EMS treated several patients as 510 and 518 crews performed primary and secondary evacuations. Upon arrival of maintenance, investigations were performed of the surrounding businesses and Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) was begun.  Crews ventilated one floor at a time, with each apartment being opened up individually. After 2 hours of operations the levels had dropped to near zero and residents were allowed to return. The cause of the CO is believed to have been a van that was left running at an adjacent loading dock for several hours.