High carbon monoxide levels in an Orange shopping plaza led firefighters to discover a fire in one of the stores on Dec. 27. Photo courtesy of the Orange Volunteer Fire Department.
Firefighters in Orange were called to investigate a strange odor in a Boston Post Road shopping plaza on Dec. 27. The investigation led firefighters to discover a fire in one store and high levels of carbon monoxide in several other shops.
Firefighters were called just after 9 a.m. to Cosmo Prof, 519 Boston Post Road, for a strange odor. They detected high levels of carbon monoxide. On further investigation, firefighters discovered there had been a fire in the Black Swan Nail and Spa, the shop next door.
Although the fire had mostly burned itself out, firefighters stretched a line and extinguished remaining hot spots.
Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas said the fire caused significant damage to the shop but did not extend to any other businesses. Smoke and potentially lethal levels of carbon monoxide, however, did spread to several other shops in the plaza. Firefighters removed the smoke and carbon monoxide from neighboring shops. All the shops were closed at the time. There were no injuries and no estimates of damage.
Fire Marshal James Vincent said the fire appears to be accidental in nature. The Orange Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing to investigate.
In addition to the Fire Marshal’s Office, the Orange Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by Orange Police and American Medical Response, who stood by at the scene. The Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department also assisted with town coverage.