The Douglas Municipal Center, which houses the towns Early Childhood Learning Center, was evacuated Monday morning after people in the building on Depot Street reported smelling an odor and complained of headaches and feeling sick. Emergency crews from at least 10 towns took more than a dozen kindergartners, a teacher and a high school senior who is an intern in the center to area hospitals with elevated levels of carbon monoxide, according to authorities. Complaints of the odor started about 8:15 a.m., especially in the area of the second-floor classrooms. The municipal center and gym are on the first floor, and the police station and utilities are in the basement. Fire Chief Kent Vinson said kindergartners and staff were quickly moved from their classrooms to the gym and tested for carbon monoxide exposure. After emergency responders found very elevated readings in a number of children, Chief Vinson said, he made the decision to call a Mass Casualty Incident and institute emergency response protocols. It was a no-brainer once we saw the levels, Chief Vinson said. I would rather give your child the highest level of care than to be cavalier about it. A malfunctioning oil boiler in the basement was the cause of the odor, according to Chief Vinson.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:16:12 +0000
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