By Robert Lowell

rlowell@keepmecurrent.com

Public safety officials will not issue any summonses in connection with a carbon monoxide response at a Gorham apartment house at 147 Plummer Road that hospitalized six people on Monday.

The apartment building reopened Tuesday.

Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said on Wednesday that the property owners, Peter and Donna Bolling of Cape Elizabeth, have been cooperative and have taken necessary corrective steps.

Lefebvre said compliance with regulations is the objective, not fining people.

Lefebvre said? that the town previously had not received a response from the property owners to a notification last year citing the violations found in their building?. Those violations included lack of working carbon monoxide detectors.

The owners could not be reached in repeated efforts on Tuesday and Wednesday by the American Journal’s deadline.

Gorham Rescue has had multiple calls this winter about carbon monoxide issues. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless.

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control website, Maine has about 150 emergency room visits for carbon monoxide each year. It also reports that only about 35.5 percent of Maine homes have carbon monoxide detectors.

Maine Fire Marshal Joseph Thomas said on Wednesday his indications are that the number of carbon monoxide incidents have increased around the state this winter. Thomas said that carbon monoxide victims develop flu-like symptoms with headaches and nausea. Thomas said carbon monoxide displaces oxygen.

“It can be deadly,” Thomas said.

Rescue personnel responded to the six-unit apartment house in Gorham on Monday after “tenants called,” Lefebvre said. He cited a boiler issue as cause for carbon monoxide detected in the apartment building.

Lefebvre said the carbon monoxide level registered 107 parts per million, and could have led to fatalities, if no one had called and the situation had continued. Lefebvre said there was no issue with carbon monoxide in a second building on the property.

Following Monday’s incident, Lefebvre re-emphasized the importance for homes to have working carbon monoxide detectors.

“This is why we keep harping on it,” Lefebvre said, pointing to the latest Gorham incident.

Multi-family housing units are required under Maine statute to be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. At the Plummer Road apartment building, Lefebvre said, one carbon monoxide detector was found in place, with five either missing or taken down. He said some smoke detectors were missing, as well.

Lefebvre said the property was inspected in April and the owners were notified in a letter last spring about violations, which included lack of working carbon monoxide detectors. Lefebvre said officials would meet with the owners in coming weeks for a plan of correction.

Authorities closed the apartment building on Monday and the Red Cross provided shelter for some tenants, while others stayed with friends. The apartment building was inspected on Tuesday afternoon and Lefebvre said the landlord had met requirements necessary to reopen the building, which Gorham tax records indicate was built in 1880.

Ambulances from several communities, including Buxton, Portland, Standish, Westbrook and Windham, in addition to two from Gorham, responded to the incident at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Lefebvre said the six individuals were all released Monday night from the hospital, while four others were checked at the scene.

Last week, Lefebvre in an American Journal story, warned residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Lefebvre said all residences should definitely have a carbon monoxide detector.

This winter’s snow accumulation has exacerbated dangers. Lefebvre cautioned property owners about keeping snow cleared away from all outside vents and doorways

On Wednesday, Lefebvre said while driving through the town he sees “house after house” with exits not shoveled.

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.

?Six residents of this ?Gorham apartment house at 147 Plummer Road ?were treated Monday for carbon monoxide exposure. Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said one carbon monoxide detector was found in place, with five either missing or taken down. He said some smoke detectors were missing, as well. Staff photo by Robert Lowell