MAY 15, 2015
HASTINGS, NEBRASKA
It was a dangerous situation for people inside the Hastings
Walmart Friday morning and some were even sent to the hospital.
The Hastings Fire Department said upon arriving on scene,
they discovered a forklift hit a heater inside the store, causing a natural gas
leak and sending three people to the hospital.
Hastings Fire Chief Kent Gilbert says Walmart employees were
very good about keeping their customers safe. The fire department's goal was to
get the building properly ventilated after the parking lot and store were
blocked off.
"We really didn't want anybody inside the building.
Some of the levels were high. Not throughout the building, but some portions,
so we really didn't want people close or in the building," said Gilbert.
Three people, a mix of customers and employees, were taken
non-emergency to Mary Lanning Healthcare.
Gilbert says the problem with natural gas is once you can
smell it, you're in danger.
"If you smell it, you want to get out of those areas
and get to fresh air,' said Gilbert.
The natural gas leak only affected the Walmart off 281 in
Hastings. Other nearby buildings were not exposed to the natural gas.
Source: http://www.khastv.com