Costco workers describe dangerous ‘white cloud’ moving down aisles as 800 shoppers forced to evacuate store | 959713O | 2024-05-01 19:08:01
Costco workers describe dangerous 'white cloud' moving down aisles as 800 shoppers forced to evacuate store | 959713O | 2024-05-01 19:08:01
COSTCO was forced to evacuate an entire store last weekend due to a dangerous chemical leak.
Around 1,000 people had to evacuate the Bay Area store in Concord, California, on April 26.
The chemical spill was due to a refrigerant leak, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Department, which reported the incident on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Refrigerant, also known as Freon, is a chemical most commonly found in air conditioning systems and heating pumps.
Emergency services said that they learned of the leak at 2:06 pm.
The department's hazmat team was called to the scene shortly after to contain the spill.
The cause of the leak was determined to be due to a faulty air conditioning unit in the store.
The store had around 800 customers and 200 employees that needed to be evacuated.
Costco employees became aware of the chemical leak when one of them noticed "a white cloud moving through the store," CW affiliate KRON reported.
A medic was onsite but no injuries caused by the leak have been reported, according to officials.
Emergency services used fans to direct the chemical cloud through the store's open doors and ventilation systems so it could safely disperse outside, according to Victor Daniel, fire prevention captain for the department.
Once authorities contained the chemical spill, Daniel said hazmat collected "air samples" to ensure that the air was safe to breathe.
Representatives from Contra Costa Health then confirmed the store was safe to enter again.
At 5:32 pm, the district said firefighters had cleared the scene.
Once the emergency was contained, authorities turned over the investigation of the cause of the leak and repairing the unit to Costco's technicians, according to Daniel.
The store was shortly thereafter able to be reopened for business.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Costco for comment on the incident but has not yet heard back.
POISONING SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of refrigerant poisoning vary based on how much exposure a person experiences.
However, symptoms to watch for from mild refrigerant exposure can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing, and irritation of the eyes, ears, and throat.
More severe poisoning symptoms include loss of consciousness, seizures, breathing difficulties, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting blood.
Accidental poisoning from a leaking appliance is rare, and is more likely to occur for people working on products that contain the chemicals or in facilities that use refrigerants, rather than the average consumer.
If the exposure occurs in a well-ventilated area like Costco's warehouse stores or involves a small amount in contact with skin, the risk of poisoning is minimal.
If if a person is showing signs of refrigerant poisoning they should call emergency services and Poison Control in the United States, which runs a 24-hour telephone guidance service for poisoning emergencies.
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