Waltham elementary school evacuated due to high carbon monoxide levels
A Waltham elementary school was evacuated Tuesday morning after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the building, according to Waltham police Lt. Richard Couture.
A maintenance worker smelled the odor of natural gas and contacted police. Firefighters responded to the scene and, using a CO meter, discovered a high level of carbon monoxide.
“The CO level was high,’’ said Couture. “They got a reading of 135 [parts per million].’’
According to Couture, a person would experience headaches once carbon monoxide readings exceed 70 parts per million.
No students were in the Whittemore school when it was evacuated. However, about a dozen staff and teachers had to be evacuated, said Lt. Scott Perry of the Waltham Fire Department. Perry said the workers did not complain of the headaches, fatigue, or dizziness that are signs of carbon monoxide exposure and did not require medical treatment.
The elevated levels of carbon monoxide were confined to a mechanical boiler room area, said Perry.
“They are ventilating the entire building,’’ said Couture.
Children were held on school buses as firefighters investigated and then were diverted to McDevitt Middle School, said Couture. The building remains closed while the gas company investigates, said Perry.
This is a developing story.
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