Marshals at Connecticut Court Sickened by Fumes
NEW HAVEN -- Several judicial marshals were sickened and taken to the hospital for carbon monoxide exposure after fumes entered the air intake system at Superior Court, 235 Church St. The court employees who were affected were working in the control room in the basement cellblock. There were a handful of prisoners in the lockup at the time, but they weren't affected, officials said.
The incident happened at about noon Thursday. According to Assistant Fire Chief Ralph Black, fumes from a gas-driven power washer being operated outside were drawn into the building.
Firefighters metered the basement and found carbon monoxide readings of eight parts per million. Firefighters and American Medical Response medics outside checked out the marshals, some of whom complained of nausea, but Black described the checks as precautionary.
Levels need to reach 30 ppm "before we have a concern."
He described the situation as more of a carbon monoxide "incident" than an emergency.
The courthouse was not evacuated.
