Carbon monoxide alarm causes evacuation of Whitehorse Health Centre
Fire department traces low levels of CO to backfiring furnace
A carbon monoxide alarm triggered by a malfunctioning furnace caused the evacuation of the Whitehorse Health Centre this morning.
No one was injured.
Morley Mackay of the Whitehorse Fire Department says the alarm was triggered before 9 a.m.
"On arrival, we smelled what smelled like a furnace backfiring and sent four guys with gas detectors," he said.
"The levels were within limits but people inside the building were feeling nauseous, so we evacuated the building and did a further check and it was in fact a furnace that was backfiring."
The furnace was turned off and windows were opened.
Philip Christensen with Yukon's Department of Highways and Public Works says workers have a comprehensive safety plan and knew what to do.
"Basically the rule is if you hear an alarm, don't try to look for issues, don't try to understand, just leave the building," he said.
The building on Quartz Road houses staff for the Health Centre, Highways and Public Works and the Yukon Human Rights Commission.
Mackay says it's an important reminder that people should make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working, especially with Whitehorse's see-sawing temperatures.
"Up and down fluctuations in temperature right now, chimneys seem to plug up," he says.