A carbon monoxide leak this morning at the Marion E. Zeh School caused the school to evacuate for several hours and sent a janitor to the hospital. The Zeh school, at 33 Howard St., was evacuated at 9:25 a.m. after a carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen prep area of the cafeteria detected the odorless gas, said Fire Chief David Durgin. "This was a very isolated part of the building,'' Durgin said. "There were no children in the area." The alarm, which was installed several years ago, sounded after a carbon monoxide monitor read 30 parts per million of the gas in the air, said Durgin. Normal levels of carbon monoxide are one to 10 parts per million, the chief said. A malfunctioning boiler was blamed for the leak, said Durgin. Fire officials used meters in the boiler room and isolated the area after getting a carbon monoxide reading of 100 parts per million. The room was ventilated using power fans, a ventilation machine and by opening doors and windows. The janitor, who complained of a headache, was treated by fire officials outside the school and went to the hospital on his own accord as a precautionary measure, Durgin said. The 350 students and staff were expected to be back in their classrooms by noon, Durgin said. "The system worked today," Durgin said. "The custodial staff, principal, superintendent, police and fire all worked together." ...
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A carbon monoxide leak this morning at the Marion E. Zeh School caused the school to evacuate for several hours and sent a janitor to the hospital. The Zeh school, at 33 Howard St., was evacuated at 9:25 a.m. after a carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen prep area of the cafeteria detected the odorless gas, said Fire Chief David Durgin. "This was a very isolated part of the building,'' Durgin said. "There were no children in the area." The alarm, which was installed several years ago, sounded after a carbon monoxide monitor read 30 parts per million of the gas in the air, said Durgin. Normal levels of carbon monoxide are one to 10 parts per million, the chief said. A malfunctioning boiler was blamed for the leak, said Durgin. Fire officials used meters in the boiler room and isolated the area after getting a carbon monoxide reading of 100 parts per million. The room was ventilated using power fans, a ventilation machine and by opening doors and windows. The janitor, who complained of a headache, was treated by fire officials outside the school and went to the hospital on his own accord as a precautionary measure, Durgin said. The 350 students and staff were expected to be back in their classrooms by noon, Durgin said. "The system worked today," Durgin said. "The custodial staff, principal, superintendent, police and fire all worked together." ...