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By WILLIAM SPECHT; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, December 08, 1995 Page: 5A
WILKES-BARRE — Margarida complex residents forced from their apartments
last week by dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide returned to the
building early Thursday.
City Building Inspector Bob Mosley said occupants were allowed to return to
the 36-unit North Main Street complex at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Mosley said that even though levels were safe Wednesday, authorities waited
24 hours before tenants returned to their apartments.
As little as 0.0001 percent of carbon monoxide in the air may produce
symptoms of poisoning. Eighty times that amount, which is potentially lethal,
was found in the basement of the apartment building Nov 30., and the building
was evacuated that day.
“We took readings using our meters, meters from the gas company and
Emergency Management to make absolutely sure the building was safe,” Mosley
said.
Tenant Neal Wesloski, 20, a King’s College student, said although he is
happy to be back, he is still a little nervous.
“The first night is going to be a little weird but I’m sure they wouldn’t
let us back in if everything wasn’t safe,” said Wesloski, who stayed with
friends for the past week.
The furnace is safe and has been rebuilt and adjusted, said Mosley. He said
the exact cause of the furnace problem was not found.
“The furnace is like new,” said Mosley. “This morning (Thursday) we had a
zero reading of carbon monoxide outside the furnace.”
He said the owner is installing a carbon monoxide detector on the furnace
to shut it off if the level rises above 200 parts per million.
Vern Blazick, manager of Wilkes-Barre Orthotics & Prosthetics, which leases
space in the building, said business was brisk during the first day open since
last week.
Tenant Tom Lavin, 21, a King’s student, said, “My school work definitely
suffered because of this, and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a week.”