18 employees evacuated from Fort Worth bakery, treated for possible CO poisoning

MedStar Ambulance and Fort Worth firefighters responded to a call at the Guanajuato Bakery located at 3301 E. Belknap Street on Thursday morning, where 18 individuals were evacuated and treated for possible carbon monoxide poisoning.

According to Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson Craig Trojacek, the call for help was initiated around 10:30 a.m. after multiple individuals reported symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some employees began feeling unwell in the morning, prompting the decision to seek assistance when several others exhibited similar symptoms.

Upon arrival, emergency crews found 18 patients, all employees of the bakery, with one woman found unconscious. All individuals were transported to hospitals as a precautionary measure to assess carbon monoxide levels, though specific details about their conditions are pending.

Andrew Ashton, a bystander, observed the emergency response and recognized the severity of the situation. He noted the presence of Atmos Gas trucks and other emergency vehicles, indicating a significant incident.

Trojacek mentioned that construction work had been conducted on an oven inside the bakery the previous day, but the exact cause of the carbon monoxide leak is still under investigation.

Firefighters utilized the bakery’s ventilation system to purify the air and continued with additional ventilation efforts to ensure optimal air quality throughout the premises.

Customers who had visited the bakery before the incident were reassured by Trojacek, indicating that if they were feeling fine, there was likely no cause for concern.

In a statement to NBC 5 later in the evening, Guanajuato Bakery attributed the gas leak to a faulty oven part that was incorrectly installed during maintenance. The bakery manager expressed regret for the oversight and confirmed that all affected employees had been discharged from the hospital and were in good health. The bakery closed for the remainder of the day but announced plans to resume operations the following day.