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December 10, 2007

Update: Lincoln store opens after evacuation

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
Employees of the Target store at Lincoln Mall evacuate the building this morning.

LINCOLN -- A department store full of early morning holiday shoppers had to be evacuated for almost three hours today, after a smell of natural gas was detected in the store’s vestibule, fire officials said.

Albion Fire Chief Richard G. Petrin said a malfunctioning heating unit atop the Target department store at Lincoln Mall was the cause of the problem. Firefighters were sent to the store at Lincoln Mall after receiving a call at 9:02 a.m. about the smell of natural gas that had prompted an evacuation of the store.

When firefighters arrived, Petrin said sensors showed elevated levels of carbon monoxide. The store, he said, had “a lot” of customers -- it advertises an 8 a.m. opening time for holiday shopping. Workers and customers were allowed back in at about 11:25 a.m., a store employee said.

Brian Correia, store team leader, said the stores’ management contractor was taking care of the heating unit repairs. He praised the Albion Fire Department members, saying they “did a great job.”

No one reported feeling any ill effects from the morning incident, Petrin said. After the heating unit was turned off, eliminating the source of the carbon monoxide, eight large fans were set up in the building to blow fresh air into the store and decrease the carbon monoxide level so it would be safe to enter.

-- Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:45 PM | Permalink

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