Stephens College closes 2 dorms after carbon monoxide issues led to evacuations

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two residence halls on Stephens College’s campus have been closed after they were evacuated on Wednesday for carbon-monoxide-related issues, according to a letter from the college’s president.

The letter from Stephens College President Shannon Lundeen says a carbon monoxide sensor was activated on Wednesday night. A resident adviser at the dorm called EMS and Searcy Hall and Prunty Hall were evacuated “due to an elevated level of carbon monoxide,” the letter says.

The boilers of both residence halls were shut down and will be replaced “as soon as possible with installation and systems to be inspected before the end of the weekend,” according to the letter. Both residence halls will stay closed in the meantime, the letter says.

The letter says students “who wished to be evaluated for potential carbon monoxide exposure were transported to Boone Hospital and assessed by medical professionals” and were eventually returned to campus.

The college is arranging temporary accommodations for affected students throughout the weekend, though the letter and school did not say where they would stay.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Columbia Police Department and Columbia Fire Department.