Carbon monoxide causes evacuation at Acton senior living facility

Seventy residents of a senior living facility were evacuated and temporarily relocated Wednesday after alarms alerted staff to elevated carbon monoxide levels.

At 7:36 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, Acton Public Safety Communications responded to afire alarm at Deaconess Abundant Life Communities, 80 Deaconess Road. Upon arrival, firefighters noted that multiple carbon monoxide alarms were sounding.

First responders tested air quality throughout the building, and discovered highly elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the basement of the north building.

Coordinating with the facility’s staff, first responders began evacuating residents and transported them to another location on site. A total of 70 residents have been temporarily relocated. 

Two contractors working at the site and two residents of the facility were transported to an area hospital as a precautionary measure.

The Department struck a third alarm at 8:23 a.m., bringing mutual aid resources from numerous surrounding communities to support the evacuation effort.

The Acton Police Department has closed Old Road to Nine Acre Corner except for emergency vehicles and Emerson Hospital visitors.

The cause of the leak remains under investigation by the Town of Acton’s plumbing inspector. There is not a timetable for when the building will be reopened to residents.