A reported structure fire turned out to be an entirely different situation in downtown Emporia Monday afternoon.
Emporia Fire was called to a possible structure fire at 712 Commercial, the Baldwin Lofts, just before 2 pm. According to Battalion Chief Tony Fuller, an alarm was sounding when crews arrived and made entry into the building.
No fire was found, however, Fuller says crews did detect carbon monoxide in the building. He tells KVOE News crews were working in the basement of the building when the leak developed filling the building.
He tells KVOE News the crews in the basement and all other occupants of the building were evacuated with no injuries reported. Traffic was blocked in the 700 block of Commercial for close to two hours as crews worked to clear all traces of carbon monoxide from the building.
