Firefighters were called to investigate a smell of chemicals in an office building on Clifford Street in the West End this evening.
Ten people left a basement conference room before crews arrived and firefighters evacuated a further 50 people from the four storey office block.
Crews using specialist equipment found raised levels of carbon monoxide and carried out a sweep of the building to identify the source of the leak. This was found to be a boiler in the basement which they isolated. The building was ventilated before being handed back to the owners..
Firefighters want everyone to make sure they have a carbon monoxide detector in their home. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, with least 50 deaths nationally recorded every year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Despite this, the majority of people still do not have a carbon monoxide detector in their home. It is vital that everyone has a carbon monoxide alarm in addition to smoke alarms.”
Five people were treated on the scene by London Ambulance Service and a further five were taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
The Brigade was called at 1704 and the incident was over at 1918. Fire crews from Soho and Lambeth fire stations attended the scene as well as a number of specialist appliances.