By Steven Fletcher
Staff Writer
—
Several residents evacuated from a major downtown building amid a carbon monoxide scare Wednesday morning complained of symptoms from the gas.
But no one was injured or taken to the hospital after the incident, and all occupants and workers at businesses within the Gattineri building were able to return with some two hours.
Firefighters responding to a call of activated alarms around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday instead found potentially fatal levels of carbon monoxide — and evacuated the structure, located at Main and Washington streets adjacent to Tally's Corner.
Fire Department Deputy Chief Steven Aiello, who ordered the evacuation, said the carbon monoxide apparently came from burnt food deposits on a wok in the Horizon restaurant, where employees had apparently left the gas-fueled stove on and unattended overnight.
When the bunt food deposits cooked on the wok, they released the gas and smoke — which activated alarms and filled the premises with an odor of smoke, Aiello said. It took firefighters two hours to vent the carbon monoxide from the four-story building, but residents and others were able to return inside around 10:30 a.m.
"The wok heat cooked the carbon, and created carbon monoxide," said Aiello, noting that Horizon workers disposed of the wok.
The department also notified National Grid, which assisted in the ventilation.
The Gattineri building, owned by Gary Raso, opens onto both Main and Roger Street, and holds several businesses and restaurants, including Dulce Cafe, Lucky 7 Arcade, and the Horizon restaurant on the first two stories. The businesses open onto Roger Street and Main Street.
The building's upper levels hold eight apartments, according to Aiello, people reside in six of the total domiciles.
He said that sleeping residents stood in the greatest danger of carbon monoxide poisoning during the night and morning.
Carbon monoxide causes flu-like symptoms, headaches, and fatigue in people exposed to the gas for too long — and several Gattineri building residents reported flu-like symptoms, Aiello said. But those who complained of symptoms said they would seek medical aid on their own, he said.
Firefighters vented the gas using a system called "positive pressure" ventilation, placing fans at the entrance of a room, opening a window, and sealing the door, Aiello said.
Raso, according to Aiello, will install a carbon monoxide detector in the restaurant in the wake of the incident. Aiello said that, while Massachusetts residences are required to have carbon monoxide detectors when gas utilities are present, but businesses are not.
Steven Fletcher can be reached at 978-28307000, x3447, or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
