KITTERY (WGME) — A Kittery child care center where nearly a dozen people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning last week did not have a working carbon monoxide detector at the time, according to newly obtained documents.
A report from the Maine fire marshal’s office was obtained by the CBS 13 I-Team after it was sent to parents by the owner of Building Blocks Learning Center.
While a spokesperson for the Fire Marshal’s Office declined to comment due to an ongoing investigation, the report shows inspectors found multiple violations after the carbon monoxide scare.
Firefighters were called to the day care last Wednesday after employees evacuated the building. Seven children and four adults were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.
State investigators determined the source of the carbon monoxide was a propane-powered concrete saw being used in an adjacent suite not affiliated with the child care center.
An inspection of the day care in June 2024 by the Department of Health and Human Services showed the center had a carbon monoxide detector, but officials said an alarm did not activate last Wednesday.
In a “Statement of Deficiencies” after an inspection on February 12, fire marshal inspectors wrote they found 13 violations at the facility, including:
– No working carbon monoxide detector in the building
– No fire extinguishers throughout the day care space
– Emergency lights were not operational outside of a bathroom
– The fire alarm system had not been inspected since October 2023
In response to the violations, the owner of Maine Learning Centers, which operates the Kittery facility, sent a letter to parents, partially blaming state regulators.
“In August of 2023, 18 months ago, they came out to visit my new construction and did a full inspection. They communicated with DHHS that I was approved and DHHS proceeded with their inspections,” Alaina Kelley wrote. “Many of these items should have been rectified before I ever proceeded with being licensed. We should not have been approved without these items being cleared.”
Child care centers in Maine are inspected by both the Maine fire marshal’s office and the Department of Health and Human Services. State law requires all licensed facilities to have both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
For now, the Building Blocks Learning Center in Kittery remains closed indefinitely.