Workers evacuate PNC bank

Four construction workers and a bank employee at PNC Bank, 1408 N. Atherton St., were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes at about 7 p.m. last night, Alpha Fire Co. Chief Steve Lower said.

The construction workers were using a gas-operated cut-off saw in an area with poor ventilation that caused some of the construction workers and one PNC Bank employee to be overcome by fumes emitted by the engine of the saw, Lower said.

"There was a fairly high level of carbon monoxide in the building," he said.

The fire company arrived on the scene to find the five victims outside of the building, Lower said. The victims evacuated themselves before the help arrived. Three were transported by ambulance to Centre Community Hospital, where they were treated in the emergency room, hospital officials said.

There was no word on the condition of the victims as of last night and their names had not been released.

The fire department ventilated the structure and the bank will be open for business today.

--by Kristin Walpole