Broward County to install carbon monoxide detectors in over 230 schools after reported gas leaks
Florida –
Florida –
WESTON, FLA. (WSVN) – – Five people were transported to the hospital after a hazmat incident happened at a high school in Weston.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and several other fire departments arrived at Cypress Bay High School, located at 18600 Vista Park Blvd, Friday morning.
7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where crews with masks entered the building and assisted people outside.
Once crews were inside the school, they detected high levels of carbon monoxide coming from the cafeteria.
According to officials, several school workers in the cafeteria reported that they were feeling lightheaded and nauseous. They are expected to be OK after receiving treatment.
“Once again they were consistent with carbon monoxide exposure: weakness, dizziness, headache,” said BSFR Chief Michael Kane.
Four cafeteria workers and one firefighter who responded to the school were treated at the scene and transported to the Cleveland Clinic with minor symptoms.
No students were affected by the incident.
“Firefighters made contact, they were able to determine there was a carbon dioxide leak occurring inside the cafeteria in the school. There were no students inside the cafeteria at the time,” said Kane. “Hazardous materials teams were requesting to respond, and they did. They determined that there was carbon monoxide leak occurring in or near the cafeteria. In an abundance of caution, the entire network of gas piping to the school was shut off.”
The cafeteria was evacuated, and all gas to the building was shut off.
Students were dismissed at noon.
“This was my concern. Now I can’t – now I’m calling him, and he doesn’t answer,” said a parent. “Hopefully they’re OK.”
Although students weren’t harmed due to the gas leak, some told 7News they could smell the gas.
“I walked in there like my eyes start tearing up like the gas leak was everywhere. I couldn’t see anything,” said a student.
“I was in my classroom, and I smelled gas through the air vents,” said Nicolas Karageorgos, a student.
We were all panicking in class figuring out how we gonna leave,” said another student.
“I was scared ’cause that’s, like, a really serious thing, and when I heard people were sent to the hospital, it was stressing me out,” said Isabella Santa Cruz. “I’m glad they worked it out and everything is good.”
As far as leaving school early on a Friday, we heard no complaints.
“Did you feel anything,” said 7news reporter Brandon Beyer.
“Only joy, got to leave school early because I had a quiz in my last period, and I got to skip it today,” said a student.
Students were sent home while crews ventilated the building.
“So we can assess, fix and also test over the weekend, so we can be back to normal operations on Monday,” said Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “Just to make sure we find, pinpoint where this leak is. So out of an abundance of caution, we want to make sure everybody is off campus.”
The cause of the leak is now under investigation.
“In total, five people were treated at the scene — including four school employees and one firefighter…Further investigation revealed that there were elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the school’s cafeteria…the hazardous materials teams secured the propane gas system that supplies the school.”
Five hospitalized after carbon monoxide leak at high school in South Florida (cbs12.com)
Story #3 in our CO Experience Project series
Carbon monoxide poisons 7 people at Ocala business (wcjb.com)
No information on source of CO or if CO detection is installed.
Sumter County, FL –
“Over 500 people, including staff members and prisoners were evacuated at USP Coleman due to a carbon monoxide leak Sunday morning, Sumter County emergency officials said.
According to Sumter County’s emergency management director, 13 people had to seek treatment and 6 went to the hospital…”
Staff evacuated after USP Coleman carbon monoxide leak (mynews13.com)
Tampa, Florida –
“Tampa Fire Rescue said crews were sent to the Oaks at Riverview Apartments on North Florida Avenue after a man in his 50s was found unconscious in his unit…Captain Henry Williams with Tampa Fire Rescue says the generators were brought in the day prior, after a small fire broke out in one of the units…Water damage from the sprinklers forced management at the complex to get a 3rd party restoration company to bring in generators. Those generators were left on.”
2 hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning at Tampa apartments | WFLA
“The cause of it was (that) one of the water heaters for the business had a mechanical failure and it was venting into the mechanical room itself which was then getting into the rooms of the residents”
More on this hotel CO incident in Lakeland, Florida. According to the video portion of this story, hotel was not required to have CO detection installed due to its age.
Carbon monoxide at Lakeland hotel sends 8, including children, to hospital (fox13news.com)
“Officials said one person was transported to the hospital.”
“Officials believe a gas-powered machine may have caused the fumes to accumulate inside the structure.”
“Before lunch could be served, four ICE detainees and one kitchen staffer had fainted and were rushed to the hospital for carbon monoxide inhalation. Two of the victims were later airlifted elsewhere…one of the exhaust fans on a piece of kitchen equipment was not activated…”
#COinCommercialBuildings
“A new Fire Protection Research Foundation report highlights the nation’s enduring CO problem”
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring/index.php?startid=20#/p/20
Other media sources report cause of CO leak was a gas stove left on for over 24 hours.
South Beach, FL – Shore Club Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn – Estero, FL
CHARCOAL GRILLS AND BBQ’S PUT OFF LETHAL AMOUNTS OF CO – NEVER USE THEM INSIDE YOUR HOME/GARAGE/TENT…https://www.local10.com/news/florida/hialeah/2-taken-to-hospital-for-carbon-monoxide-exposure-after-super-bowl-party
A CO leak forced the evacuation of students and staff at Sugarloaf Elementary School in the Florida Keys…https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article225335180.html
ORLANDO, FL — Dozens of workers were evacuated from a baking company Sunday morning due to a carbon monoxide alarm and at least one person was taken away from the building with chest pains.
https://patch.com/florida/orlando/hazmat-situation-orlando-forces-dozens-evacuate
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327312448/?terms=kenneth%2Bvaughan%2Bmonoxide