MEC&F Expert Engineers : GAS LEAK AT HASTINGS WALMART SENDS THREE TO HOSPITAL

Saturday, May 16, 2015

GAS LEAK AT HASTINGS WALMART SENDS THREE TO HOSPITAL




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