What was initially believed to be an issue with a detector led to the evacuation of the Rockland Police Department and Park Street Grill, Tuesday afternoon, due to high levels of carbon monixide in the building. For Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock, this incident is a good reminder: "with an odorless and colorless gas, detection is the only way to know you are within a space with this deadly gas."

According to Rockland Fire Department, the FD received a call from a member of Rockland PD, Aug. 4, at 5:01 p.m., stating that they had an issue with one of their carbon monoxide detectors.

Lieutenant Ben Adams was the first Fire officer on scene to 1 Police Plaza, at 1 Park Drive, reporting 70 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the Police Department. The Police Department was evacuated followed by an evacuation of the Park Street Grill restaurant, located directly above the Police Department.

Lieutenant Adams determined the source of the carbon monoxide to be coming from an internal combustion forklift operating inside the garage portion of the building occupied by the Maine Lobster Festival Committee. Once completely evacuated, multiple fans were used to ventilate the building.

Five fire personnel of Tower 3 and Rescue 2’s crews worked on ventilating the Park Street Grill and the Lighthouse Museum areas. Levels of 35 parts per million were found in the areas of the Park Street Grill and Lighthouse Museum.

It took a little over an hour to remove the carbon monoxide from the building. All personnel cleared the scene at 6:07 p.m.  

"Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon fuels," said Asst. Chief Patrick Lowe. "This gas can reduce the blood’s ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide exposure can lead to illness and even death. 

"In this case the use of a forklift in an enclosed area, with limited ventilation, produced unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide throughout the building," said Lowe.