Drills help college with response to carbon monoxide leak
Shortly before noon today, a gas-like smell was reported in Greenbrier Hall on the New River Community and Technical College Campus in Lewisburg. The College evacuated the building to the Arts and Sciences Building, notified 911 and cancelled afternoon and evening classes using the College’s emergency alert process. Emergency responders along with the gas company and maintenance contractors came to the Campus to investigate the source of the odor, and after cancelling classes, the College closed the Greenbrier Valley Campus.
The evacuation and notification process was effective and efficient as a result of drills held by the College throughout the year.
The Lewisburg Fire Department identified the problem as a carbon monoxide leak coming from a boiler in a mechanic room. The boiler was turned off, proper ventilation was set up and levels were monitored as they decreased.
The Lewisburg Fire Department has determined that it is safe to occupy the building and has released the building to the College. The boiler has been turned back on, and as an additional safety measure, the building will be checked twice by the Lewisburg Fire Department before the College resumes operations tomorrow.
Additional operation and class information will be forthcoming.
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia from the Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville) and Raleigh County Campus (Beaver/Beckley).
Last updated on: Jan 23, 2018
