Photo: Anna Shvets / Pexels
A Costco branch in Colorado Springs was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after receiving multiple reports of a strong gas smell into the store.
Crews from the Colorado Spring Fire Department moved to the store located at the 5050 on Nevada Avenue, around 5 in the afternoon.
The first emergency team to arrive managed to evacuate all customers and employees , as explained in a statement by Mike Smaldino, the department’s public information officer.
Although the authorities did not report any injuries, due to gas smell between 12 Y 15 people were examined after stating that they had a severe headache . Finally the authorities reported that no person had to be hospitalized.
Update- CSFD and @ CSUtilities are on scene investigating @ costco_USA . Crews were able to isolate gas leak to a valve at the water heater. Business reps will work with contractor to fix the issue. Store will remain closed for the night but should be open tomorrow # hazmat pic.twitter.com/ILWTfJMtvG
– CSFD PIO (@CSFDPIO) May 20, 2021
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After the evacuation, the emergency teams toured the store but despite using a team of monitors, they could not detect any leaks.
An hour later the fire department and the store maintenance company found a leak in the branch water heater.
Costco staff and the maintenance crew worked through Wednesday night and until the morning of this Thursday to repair the leak and avoid an accident.
This week Costco joined Walmart now other retailers that modified their policy on the use of masks inside the branches so that now customers who are fully vaccinated against COVID – 19 will not require wearing a mask inside the establishments , only in case there is a local or state mandate that obliges customers and workers to use it again.
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