(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) Arlington County and Fort Myer firefighters and medics are on the scene of a carbon monoxide incident on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
The incident is taking place at the Cody Child Development Center on the base. Firefighters were dispatched there shortly after 10 a.m.
According to scanner traffic, employees and children were evacuated to an auditorium due to a high level of carbon monoxide in the building. The source of the CO has been traced back to a malfunctioning boiler.
Firefighters are ventilating the building while a hazmat team continues to monitor conditions. Medics treated and monitored at least eight patients, who are suffering nausea and anxiety-like symptoms. No patients required transport to the hospital.
A crew of firefighters was dispatched to the center’s kitchen to retrieve infant formula for some of the children, according to scanner traffic.
Around noon, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall issued the following press release about the incident, asking parents to come pick up their children.
A “suspicious odor” reported this morning at the Cody Child Development Center on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has led to the relocation of the center’s children to another portion of the center as JBM-HH Fire and Rescue services investigate.
Emergency services responded after detection of a “suspicious odor” in the facility earlier this morning. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the emergency services
Parents of the children have been notified and are asked by the center’s management to pick up their children as soon as possible.
“Our primary concern is the safety of everyone involved,” said Col. Mike Henderson, JBM-HH commander. “We are doing everything possible to mitigate any potential danger to children, staff and others involved.”
Children are being screened and will be treated by medical services on scene.
Joint base officials said that there is a plan in place to quickly relocate children to another portion of the joint base if responders’ investigation determines that there is indeed a safety hazard present.
Parents seeking additional information about the situation can contact the Cody Child Development Center’s management at 703-696-3712.
Additional information will be released as available. Please check the JBM-HH Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jbmhh for additional details as they become available.
ACFD on scene of a CO incident at Ft. Myer. Several patients were evaluated but not transported. Units will be clearing the scene soon.
— Arlington Fire (@ACFDPIO) January 14, 2016