ROCHESTER, Minn. – Guests in the landmark 600-room Kahler Hotel evacuated to the lobby because the ventilation system was pushing carbon monoxide gas through the building. There were no injuries. The CO1 levels were low, said fire Captain Ben Davis. The highest concentration was 100 parts per million. Dizziness and other symptoms usually don’t begin unti1 150 to 200. The source was not determined immediately. Guests stayed in the lobby, where concentrations were low, until firefighters declared an all-clear. The hotel was ventilated by opening widows and positive pressure through the HVAC system. Firefighters had been called to the hotel about 2:30 p.m. after guests reported smelling natural gas. Once on scene, firefighters discovered carbon monoxide on their monitors. CO1, which can be fatal, is tasteless and invisible and has no odor. The source of the natural gas odor remained a mystery.
Earlier: Rescuers tell their story of Rochester hotel gas leak
Centenarian hotel. The downtown Kahler was built in 1921 and updated and remodeled regularly. It’s Rochester’s classiest address for visitors. Handy to Mayo Clinic.
LaQuinta CO1 leak
The carbon monoxide leak at the Kahler followed a CO1 scare a week earlier at the LaQuinta hotel in south Rochester. The levels of CO1 at LaQuinta were 500 parts per million. Most readiggs at the Kahler were 50 to 80, although some readings were at 100. At La Quinta, four gests required hospitalization.