Man Found Dead in Syracuse, NY, Building after Carbon Monoxide Leak

Syracuse, N.Y. — A man was found dead Tuesday morning in the cafeteria of the Academy of Science in Syracuse after a carbon monoxide leak, according to the Syracuse Fire Department.

The fire department responded to a call at 7:54 a.m. for a cardiac arrest at the school, according to Captain Phillip Vogt, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Fire Department. The charter school is at 1001 Park Ave.

Twelve adults were evaluated and five were transported to hospitals with symptoms consistent with mild to moderate exposure to carbon monoxide, he said in a news release. Most were working in the kitchen area, where the levels of carbon monoxide were found to be the highest.

A carbon monoxide detector attached to the bag carrying emergency medical equipment started alerting, Vogt said. . Additional firefighters were called in and found high levels of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is a byproduct of incomplete combustion.

The carbon monoxide detectors brought in by the fire department found high levels of carbon monoxide in the cafeteria, Vogt said. Other areas of the school didn’t have high levels of carbon monoxide, he said.

No students were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, Vogt said. The students were evacuated and sent to district offices across the street. The school decided to send students home for the remainder of the day.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at [email protected].

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