Photo: City of Ames
(Ames, IA) -- ChildServe in Ames was evacuated Thursday afternoon due to a carbon monoxide leak. The Ames Fire Department responded shortly after 1 p.m. to the ChildServe at 1915 Philadelphia Street. Firefighters subsequently measured CO levels at 87 part per million. Most alarms are set to trip at 35 parts per million.
ChildServe relocated 75 children and 50 staff members to a nearby building for around 45 minutes. High-powered electric fans were used to ventilate the entire structure. There were no injuries or exposures reported. The high levels of CO resulted from inadequate ventilation by a crew operating gas-powered equipment while working on a building addition.