Carbon Dioxide Leak Prompts Evacuation At Downtown Keene Restaurant

Fire crews were dispatched at approximately 6:15 p.m. to 82 Main St., home to The Perch after receiving reports of a possible tank explosion involving a carbon dioxide (CO₂) system. The initial call indicated an evacuation was already underway.

Deputy Chief Gregory Seymour, operating as Car 4, arrived within a minute and reported no visible damage from the front of the building. However, firefighters soon identified a hissing sound coming from the rear of the restaurant.

Engine 1 crews located the source of the issue: a 60-gallon CO₂ storage cylinder that was venting through its pressure relief valve. Officials estimate roughly one-quarter of the tank’s contents had been released before responders arrived.

Firefighters secured the system and brought the situation under control within about 15 minutes. Crews then ventilated the building and used gas detection equipment to monitor air quality and confirm that CO₂ levels were safe.

All units cleared the scene by approximately 6:41 p.m., about 30 minutes after the initial dispatch. Eleven Keene fire personnel responded to the incident, and no mutual aid was requested.

No injuries were reported among patrons, employees, or emergency responders, and officials said there was no property damage.

The restaurant has since reopened, though its CO₂-dependent beverage system remains out of service pending inspection and repair.

Fire officials noted that carbon dioxide is commonly used in commercial settings such as restaurants, particularly in beverage systems. While the gas is non-flammable and odorless, it can pose a serious risk in enclosed spaces by displacing oxygen, potentially leading to dizziness, unconsciousness, or asphyxiation.

The cause of the leak remains under investigation by the Keene Fire Marshal’s Office.