Smell of Gas Evacuates Recovery Home

Lingering vapors kept residents away from home overnight

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - During the heavy wind and rain of Sunday night, 6 women, 6 children and 4 visitors were evacuated from the Waterside Oxford Recovery Home at 2103 Broadway Street NE. Salem Fire Department responded to the call of a gasoline smell at 6:55 PM, bringing 3 fire engines, a ladder truck, a Battalion Chief and two medic units. Salem firefighters quickly determined that the odor was coming from a lawnmower parked in the basement of the home, which contained approximately 6" of standing water. The lawnmower had caused a fuel sheen across the water. Salem firefighters removed the lawnmower from the basement, pumped the water out and used a fan to ventilate the fumes. Due to lingering vapors, the residents were unable to return to their home. The residents were kept dry in the ambulances until rides and overnight housing were arranged for each of them. Residents were allowed back into the home for overnight supplies. Two residents were transported to Salem Hospital. Broadway Street was closed for approximately 30 minutes.