UB building had missing CO detectors

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - Six people had to be treated Sunday night on UB's North campus in Amherst after a carbon monoxide leak was detected.

University at Buffalo spokesman Joe Brennan told News 4 campus police started getting calls around 8:30 p.m. Sunday for students feeling "nauseous and headachy" at the Richmond quads. Later, officials would learn the building did not have carbon monoxide detectors.

Campus police evacuated the building, and firefighters were called in. They soon determined there was a carbon monoxide leak coming from a faulty boiler in a laundry area. Brennan says firefighters were able to shut off the boiler quickly and ventilate the building. The levels of carbon monoxide were so high, it could have become life threatening after three hours of exposure.

In total, six people were treated for exposure. Two were taken by ambulance and treated at the hospital. Two others were able to drive themselves to the hospital and were treated. Brennan says they're expected to make a "full recovery". Two other people were checked out on campus for mild symptoms of headaches and nausea, they were treated and released. Brennan says no one lost consciousness.

"There was exposure, but it was mild exposure, and the problem has been corrected", Brennan said. He added students were expected to be back into their dorm rooms by midnight.

UB officials discovered that the building's two carbon monoxide detectors they believed were in place were missing. According the New York's fire code, the building is required to have them. Officials also found the boiler had improper ventilation, and the carbon monoxide was not being pumped outside.

"This could have been a very serious incident. We are very fortunate no one was seriously hurt," Brennan said. "This is the first time we can recall this every happening on our campus."

According to the school's website, Richmond houses undergraduates but also contains academic and administrative offices. Brennan says about 500 students live there, but he suspects not all of them were there when the building was evacuated.

UB is adding more carbon monoxide detectors to the building.