Carbon monoxide forces evacuations of Mass. families

By Jillian Jorgensen and Daniel M. Peleschuk
Boston Globe

BOSTON — Five adults and five children were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital Tuesday night with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning after the Boston Fire Department evacuated a building in a public housing development in South Boston, fire officials said.

The conditions of the victims, some of whom were given oxygen in ambulances, were not immediately known. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea and light-headedness, and headaches.

About 9:30 p.m., carbon monoxide detectors sounded in a first-floor apartment at 16 O'Callaghan Way, prompting residents to call 911, Boston Fire Department spokesman Stephen MacDonald said.

"I can't emphasize enough, carbon monoxide detectors save lives," Boston Fire Department Captain Edward Callahan said at the scene.

Four of six apartments in the building in the Mary Ellen McCormack development were occupied at the time of the evacuation, officials said. The Boston Housing Authority will find temporary quarters for at least 12 people who were displaced, MacDonald said.

The Boston Fire Department responded to the one-alarm incident with eight fire trucks. Several city ambulances, Boston police and the Boston Housing Authority responded to the scene, MacDonald said.

"I was talking on the phone with my mom, and they [firefighters] came out of nowhere and said 'you need to be evacuated from the apartment,'" said Angelina Robinson, 11, who lives in the building.

The source of the gas was not known last night, MacDonald said.

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