Bloomfield College Students Evacuated After Carbon Monoxide Leak Found

A carbon monoxide leak caused a Bloomfield College dormitory to be evacuated Wednesday night, according to a Bloomfield Fire Department official. 

Though no students were harmed in the incident, the students have been relocated to other buildings on campus until further notice, said fire official Samuel Infante. 

“The cause was a faulty furnace and a semi-blocked chimney,” he said. 

Campus security notified central dispatch at 9:05 pm Wednesday when carbon monoxide alarms in the dormitory went off.  After responding to the scene and evacuating the occupants, the fire department alerted PSE&G.

“The alarm panel indicated the [carbon monoxide] level was 35 parts per million in the basement, and 80 parts per million elsewhere in the building,” said Infante, referring to a gauge used by fire officials to determine the severity of the leak.  As he explained it, 200 parts per million causes a slight headache and nausea within 1-2 hours, while 400 parts per million causes a headache within the hour and is life-threatening within three hours. 

Infante described the dormitory, located at 21 Austin Place, as a 90-year-old 4-story concrete building that houses over 100 students.  He said a local contractor will be working on the building this week to fix the problem that caused the leaks.   Until then, the students will remain in alternate housing.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include reddish skin, sleepiness, headache and dizziness.  The fire department recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors in all businesses and residences, and calling 911 if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak.