A malfunction in some propane-fired trucks reportedly drove carbon monoxide levels high enough to send five people to Addison Gilbert Hospital and forced employees at Mortillaro Lobsters to evacuate their building in Gloucester's historic Fort neighborhood Monday.
But four of the employees who went to the hospital were taken only for evaluation after complaining of headaches and other symptoms and then released, while Vincent Mortillaro, owner of the longtime Commercial Street business, was treated and released at AGH.
The report of carbon monoxide was called in to Gloucester's emergency services at 12:38 p.m., and the seven people in the building evacuated.
Some drove themselves to AGH, while others were taken by ambulance. Gloucester's rescue squads called for up to five additional ambulances after arriving at the scene, with Beauport Ambulance, the regular backup for Gloucester's emergency crews, joining in the response.
Mortillaro had felt ill and, due to existing health concerns he was evaluated first.
"It (was) just a precautionary measure," said general manager Gino Mortillaro, Vincent's brother.
When employees began feeling ill, complaining of headaches and dizziness, Gino Mortillaro told the Fire Department he suspected a carbon monoxide leak.
When firefighters checked the building, they found carbon monoxide rates ranging from 155 parts per million to as high as 300 ppm. The level considered dangerous to humans is 100 ppm.
There were only seven people in the building when the alarm was sounded because employees begin work from midnight to 4 a.m., and most had left for the day.
Gino Mortillaro, however, said he insisted that even employees who were heading home when the alarm sounded stay to be evaluated by medical crews.
"These guys are like family to me," he said.
The Fire Department ventilated the building, and declared that it was safe to be used as early as later Monday afternoon, provided the trucks were not used, Fire Capt. Tom LoGrande said.
LoGrande said the company had plans to have the trucks repaired right away.
Carbon monoxide is formed when organic matter is burned with limited oxygen supply, so it has one oxygen molecule rather than two. Carbon monoxide can bind to parts of blood cells and prevent oxygen from being efficiently absorbed, which can, in some cases, lead to asphyxiation.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea and flu-like symptoms.
Some workers at Mortillaro's thought they were just getting sick, according to one person at the scene, though they were breathing apparently dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Those with carbon monoxide poisoning are treated by breathing pure oxygen to make sure they get enough oxygen to their system.
Stephanie Bergman can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3451, or at sbergman@gloucestertimes.com.
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