A carbon monoxide incident at a local grocery store in Plaistow sent several people to the hospital and raised concerns about safety after a dangerous gas buildup inside the building.
Emergency crews responded late at night to a Shaw’s supermarket after many 911 calls said that they smelled a strange odor and workers were feeling ill. Fire officials said about 14 employees were inside the store at the time, and several became sick enough that they needed help leaving the building.
Four people were transported to nearby hospitals with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning including dizziness, fatigue, and weakness. Authorities said that everyone should recover.
Investigators later said that the source of the carbon monoxide was likely a gas-powered pressure washer being used indoors by a cleaning crew. The machine released dangerous levels of the odorless and colorless gas into the air. It created a hazardous environment for those inside the store.
Firefighters detected high levels of carbon monoxide near the rear of the building and quickly evacuated the store. Officials said that the fast response by workers that called 911 and exited the building likely prevented a more serious outcome.
The store was ventilated overnight and later deemed safe to reopen.
