THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503270036
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE AND LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
More than 300 people were evacuated from a busy Wal-Mart store Sunday evening after an employee's efforts to clean up a spill accidentally set off a chemical reaction that released noxious fumes.
Several people, including the employee, began coughing and complaining of a burning sensation in their throats.
Eventually, 27 employees and customers were treated at the scene or were taken to Louise Obici Memorial Hospital. None was expected to be kept overnight, although three people were still being treated in the emergency room at 11 p.m.
``It's what we call the `housewife's brew,' '' said Lt. Jeff Messinger, Fire Department spokesman.
``We believe it was an ammonia-based woman's hair dye product that was spilled, and the maintenance man who cleaned up the mess used an ammonia-based or bleach-based product in the mop water,'' Messinger said. ``When you combine the two mixtures it forms a caustic cloud, a vapor that is a respiratory and eye irritant.''
The mixture can be serious stuff.
``In concentrated quantities or with prolonged exposure, it can be extremely dangerous, even deadly,'' Messinger said. ``But if a person is removed to fresh air and given oxygen, they'll usually be OK.''
The incident occurred about 6:40 p.m. at the Wal-Mart in the 1400 block of N. Main St.
Employee Jesse Little said that when he went to the store's health and beauty aids section to clean up a spill, he noticed a strong odor. Some people walking by were coughing, but the fluid on the floor appeared to be nothing more than soft drink.
Moments after he cleaned up the spill, however, Little found himself among those overcome.
Messinger said: ``It was purely accidental. From what we are seeing, he did not know what he was cleaning up. There was no bottle or container close by he could ID to know what the substance was.''
He said exposure to such fumes commonly causes burning on contact with the eyes, nasal cavities, throat and lungs.
Store employees called 911 as soon as people began complaining. Firefighters walked through the store organizing what several customers called a calm evacuation.
Paramedics were waiting outside to check people as they left. Several, including Little, were given oxygen at the scene. The Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad took some to Obici; a few more went there on their own.
The effect of the fumes was short-lived, however, because they dissipated quickly in the cavernous store.
Messinger said firefighters and hazardous-materials experts could not locate the source of the spill. They theorized it may have leaked from a bottle that was not properly capped in someone's shopping cart.
The Southside Regional Hazardous Materials Team, composed of firefighters from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, was called in, and two representatives of the State Office of Emergency Services monitored the situation.
The store was declared clear of any hazardous fumes and reopened about 9:30 p.m. after numerous air quality tests were conducted.
By the time the experts found the offending mop and bucket, ``all the suspected product had finished reacting,'' Messinger said.
Some of the people taken to the hospital were treated for anxiety attacks and sent home, hospital spokeswoman Susan Stone said.
A hazardous-materials officer will meet with store officials today, Messinger said, to review the incident and determine whether employees need any further safety training. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Staff
More than 300 people were evacuated Sunday night from a Wal-Mart
store in the 1400 block of N. Main St.in Suffolk.
by CNB