The scene outside of the Pauls Valley senior citizen center was anything but normal Wednesday morning when the facility had to be evacuated because of a suspected carbon monoxide or natural gas leak.
First responders found a handful of people outside in the parking lot in need of medical attention as other people at the site in Wacker Park were wondering what had happened.
Authorities initially said they weren’t sure what caused the incident that resulted in three kitchen workers being taken to the local hospital for treatment.
“They thought it was a carbon monoxide leak, but you couldn’t smell that. Carbon monoxide doesn’t leave an odor,” Pauls Valley Fire Chief Joe Eddy said.
“I don’t know what could have caused it. Right now we don’t know what it was,” he said moments after the evacuation.
Later in the day Pauls Valley City Manager James Frizell said natural gas might have been the culprit.
“It appears it could be related to possibly a natural gas leak,” Frizell said. Workers from Oklahoma Natural Gas tagged the site, Frizell said, “which means there’s a potential leak.”
Work to determine and repair the leak began almost immediately. Until the repairs are made the local center will remain closed.
“Worst case scenario is it could stay closed until Monday,” the city manager said. “It could take them that long to locate the leak and fix it.”
The three kitchen employees were beginning preparation work for the daily meal when they claimed to smell the odor of a burning electrical item. The odor then apparently turned to a petroleum type of smell.
“A petroleum smell is what they called it,” Eddy said.
Then the trio claimed they began to get headaches, followed by upset stomachs and then the clincher when they became light-headed.
Moments later the workers and a handful of seniors inside the center went to the parking lot, where some received immediate attention such as oxygen supplied by masks.
Those same workers later said, when specifically asked by authorities, they hadn’t used any cleaning products before the incident began.
After the building was cleared, firefighters checked the entire interior.
“We went through the building with a four-gas monitor and didn’t pick anything up,” Eddy said.
Front Page
Related Photos
-
An emergency medical official offers a hand Wednesday to two workers at the Pauls Valley senior citizen center in Wacker Park after a gas leak of some sort resulted in the building being evacuated. The center will remain closed until the any necessary repairs are made. (PVDD photo by Jim Richardson)
Discussion
Anything but normal for senior site
- Local News
-
-
Group looks to make fitness fun
Fitness and fun — a great combination for an ever expanding group working to better the health of those in the entire Garvin County area.
- 4-H program helps with 911 signs
- Despite 75th milestone, GC livestock show maintains tradition
-
Group looks to make fitness fun
- Sports
-
Giants wide receiver Hakeem Hicks is taken down by Patriots defender Devin McCourty after a 19-yard gain.
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants won their fourth NFL championship Sunday in Indianapolis, scoring in the final minute to defeat New England 21-17.
- SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers
- ESPN show to look at PV topic
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
- Obituaries
-
-
Dale Gore
Dale Gore, 47, of Wynnewood was born Dec. 7, 1964 in Wynnewood to Ruby Laverne (Jones) Byrum. He passed away Feb. 1, 2012 at Oklahoma City, Okla.
-
Martha Freeman
Services for Martha Ann Freeman, 81, of Byars are at 2 p.m. Friday at the Stratford Church of Christ.
-
William Walter Barckholtz
William (Bill) Walter Barckholtz, 68, of Pauls Valley, Okla., died January 30, 2012 at Pauls Valley General Hospital.
-
Madison McKenzie Vandever
Madison McKenzie Vandever of Pauls Valley was born September 17, 1996 in Pauls Valley to Billy and Dana Vandever.
-
Dale Gore
- Community News
-
-
Theater focus of PV native’s return
Addiction is a condition one usually tries to avoid or seek treatment for, but when it comes to theater, Pauls Valley native Vaughn C. Johnson only seeks to feed the habit.
- Missoula prepares for audition rush Feb. 20
-
Theater focus of PV native’s return
- State News
-
-
Nominate an Unsung Hero
Citizen Service Before Self Honors are presented to unsung heroes the fewer than 90 living recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor - the Medal of Honor. Citizen Service Before Self Honorees represent the values of courage, sacrifice, and selfless service.
-
Fallin highlights more cuts to Oklahma income tax
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin provided more details of her plan to cut the personal income tax for all Oklahomans during her State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday, but had few specifics on how she plans to pay for the ambitious proposal.
-
Nominate an Unsung Hero
- Business
-
-
Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
It's deceptively easy to make mistakes on your resume and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. So prevention is critical, whether you're writing your first resume or revising it for a mid-career job search. Check out this resume guide to the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them.
- Coughing? Sneezing? How to know if you're too sick to work
- 50 year mark a milestone for man, business
- 5 tips to help you land a new job in 2012
- Proposed farm labor rules
-
Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Kelly Clarkson Honors America at Super Bowl
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Komen Official Out After Planned Parenthood Row
