Student residence evacuated over carbon monoxide leak

An evacuation was ordered and a university student had to be taken to hospital after carbon monoxide seeped through an off-campus student residence.

Fire crews were called Tuesday night to St. John’s Institute in Edmonton, where workers had been fixing the boiler over the past few days. The fire personnel investigated and found a carbon monoxide reading of 47 parts per million, which they say is quite high.

Fire department spokeswoman Nikki Booth says the student’s symptoms were very similar to carbon monoxide poisoning, including headache and nausea.

The building was ventilated and students were allowed back into the building.

But student Amanda Vavrek says she’s going to stay at a friend’s for now.

Related Posts

Six Canadian university students on how they’re fighting climate change

University students in Canada are paying more attention to climate change than ever before. It’s their future that’s in limbo, they say, and they want companies and governments—and their own schools—to start listening.

Five easy, tasty recipes for students on a budget

Tempted to order pizza—again? Maybe try one of these recipes instead; they’re cheap and cheerful, with bragging rights guaranteed.

"The fire alarms have been going off all weekend, which we thought was just a surge in the circuits, but apparently not," she said. "I don’t really feel that comfortable staying here tonight."

- The Canadian Press