The DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Boston faced a perilous situation on the night of 25 July 2023 as it was forced to evacuate all its guests due to a carbon monoxide leak from the hotel's utility room.

Around 10pm, the Boston Fire Department received a call from the hotel, alerting them that the carbon monoxide alarm was going off. Carbon monoxide is an invisible and odourless gas produced when burning fuels such as gasoline or propane.

It can pose serious health risks and even lead to fatalities.

More than 500 guests evacuated

The hotel was fully booked with more than 500 guests occupying its 267 rooms. Fortunately, no reported injuries or illnesses resulted from the leak.

But on arrival, fire officials discovered high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the building, making a full evacuation necessary.

Quick and decisive action by the firefighters led them to identify the source of the leak – the utility room. They shut off power to the area, causing the carbon monoxide levels to decrease, and by midnight, guests were able to return to their rooms.

Uncertainty over future leak risks

But while normal operations have resumed, it remains uncertain whether the underlying cause of the carbon monoxide leak has been permanently fixed. The authorities are likely to conduct further investigations to ensure the safety of future occupants.

They emphasised the utmost importance of the safety and security of their guests, asserting that the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Downtown fully adheres to all applicable laws and building codes.