Carbon monoxide detected at Northborough elementary school

By Casey Ramsdell, Globe Correspondent

A Northborough elementary school was evacuated for two hours this morning after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected.

The cause of the gas leak at the Marion E. Zeh Elementary School was a faulty boiler. The leak was noticed when the school's carbon monoxide detector went off, said Fire Captain Robert P. Theve.

Theve said a school official called the department at about 9:30 after the alarm went off and firefighters advised them to pull the fire alarm and evacuate the building as a precaution.

A high concentration of the potentially deadly gas was found in the cafeteria and the boiler room, said Theve. He said lower levels were also found throughout the school.

The school was ventilated and the students were allowed back in the school by about 11:30.

One custodian sought medical attention because he was exposed to the gas in the boiler room. No one else was harmed, said Theve.

Theve said the boiler has been shut down and repairs will be made after school is dismissed.

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