Refrigerator leaks toxic gas, shoppers evacuated in Maplewood

Shoppers evacuated from an Essex County grocery store tonight after a refrigerator began leaking a toxic gas.

News 12 Staff

Feb 25, 2019, 3:14 AM

Updated 1,933 days ago

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Refrigerator leaks toxic gas, shoppers evacuated in Maplewood
Shoppers were evacuated from an Essex County grocery store Sunday night after a refrigerator began leaking a toxic gas.
Customers say they were shopping at Extra Supermarket on Irvington Avenue in Maplewood when they began noticing a haze in the aisles.
Firefighters arrived around 7:30 p.m. and evacuated shoppers immediately. No one was injured as a result of the leak.
Officials say a refrigerator in the basement had a small gas leak. The gas could be toxic if inhaled for long periods of time, but firefighters say they evacuated the approximately 30 shoppers inside quickly and safely.

"We are just ventilating the building with natural means, with fans, opening doors. We have other companies on scene helping us with that. And once it is ventilated it will all be good and business as usual tomorrow," says Captain Mike Hannigan.
The Health Department will inspect the supermarket and give the final OK Monday morning.
 


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