Maidenhead update after flats poison gas evacuation

Providence Place, Maidenhead <i>(Image: Google Maps)</i>
Providence Place, Maidenhead (Image: Google Maps)
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Around 40 Berks residents spent the weekend in temporary accommodation after high levels of carbon monoxide were confirmed amid an emergency flats evacuation.

In a letter seen by the Maidenhead Advertiser, a management company for Providence House, at St Cloud Way, Maidenhead, stated that the poisonous gas is no longer present in the building.

Residents had been evacuated overnight from Friday, January 16, to Saturday, January 17.

Gas leak reports had been made to the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service at 6.17pm on Friday.

It stated that crews from Maidenhead, Windsor, Langley fire stations, and two crews from Slough Fire Station were sent to the scene, alongside an Incident Command Unit from Maidenhead Fire Station, and two officers.

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The fire and rescue service added: "Upon arrival, crews found high levels of carbon monoxide in the building.

"Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus evacuated people.

"Three people were checked for carbon monoxide levels by South Central Ambulance Service and cleared on scene.

"Crews used a ventilation fan to ventilate the building.

"They were on scene for approximately six hours.

"One crew from Maidenhead Fire Station and one Officer later returned to the scene to monitor the carbon monoxide levels.

"The scene was handed over to the property’s manager."

At 50 minutes past midnight on Saturday morning, Thames Valley Police stated that its officers were on the scene of an evacuation at the flats above Sainsbury's.

The force said: "Our officers and other emergency services are on scene following reports of a gas leak at Providence House, St Cloud Way, Maidenhead.

"A section of block of flats have been evacuated.

"We do not believe there is a wider danger in other sections of the building.

"A number of people have been checked over by paramedics but no one has required hospital treatment.

"Those who have been evacuated are being provided with temporary accommodation."

At 3.31pm on January 17, police shared an update, saying that while a section of the building remains closed, it is not believed that there is any wider danger to other sections of the building.

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In a community alert, the force stated: "Our officers and other emergency services remain on scene following an incident at Providence House, St Cloud Way Maidenhead following high levels of carbon monoxide gas being found in the building.

"We are working with the, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and other stakeholders to effectively manage and resolve the situation.

"While a section of the building remains evacuated, it is not believed there is wider danger in other sections of the building.

"Those who have been evacuated have been provided with temporary accommodation."

Residents hoped to return home on Monday, January 19.

The apartment block is owned and managed by Sainsbury’s, property management firm Encore and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

The Maidenhead Advertiser stated that Housing Solutions provided an update to residents on Sunday.

A letter from chief executive Orla Gallagher said: “We understand that the source of the carbon monoxide may be linked to boilers serving the Sainsbury’s store beneath the flats.

“These boilers may have contributed to the carbon monoxide emissions, however, this has not yet been confirmed and remains under investigation.”

The company added that specialist testing of the boilers at Sainsbury’s was set to take place on Monday, January 19, with plans in place for residents to return to their homes on the same day.

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