Community Risk

Six-Story Va. Hotel Evacuated For High CO Levels

Feb. 7, 2013

High levels of carbon monoxide were detected on several floors of the Homewood Suites in Virginia Beach forcing evacuation of the building on Wednesday night.

Source The Virginian-Pilot

Feb. 07--VIRGINIA BEACH -- The Homewood Suites on Cleveland Street is open again after a carbon monoxide problem Wednesday night forced an evacuation.

Fire officials responded to the hotel at 5733 Cleveland St. around 10 p.m. and found high levels of carbon monoxide on several floors of the six-story hotel, according to Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a Fire Department spokesman.

Firefighters traced the problem to a faulty natural gas heater on the roof. It was placed out of service until repairs can be made, Riley said. Firefighters spent more than three hours Wednesday ventilating the building and monitoring carbon monoxide levels.

About 75 guests were evacuated and spent the night at neighboring hotels. EMS officials checked several guests, but no one was taken to a hospital, Riley said.

The hotel did not have carbon monoxide detectors. Riley said they were not required by state building codes at the time the hotel was built.