Smoke drives employees, customers out of Smith’s store

ST. GEORGE — Numerous firefighters and support teams responded as smoke filled the Smith’s food and drug store in St. George Sunday evening. Firefighters investigating found a Freon line that had broken in the back of the building, causing the smoke inside.

Smoke in Smith's Food and Drug led to evacuation Sunday evening, St. George, Utah, August 2, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Smoke in Smith’s food and drug store led to the store being evacuated while firefighters investigated, St. George, Utah, Aug. 2, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

Firefighters were dispatched to the store, located at 20 N. Bluff Street, just before 7:30 p.m.

The smoke was caused by a small, brass 90-degree fitting that was cracked, St. George Fire Battalion Chief Ken Guard said. The broken line ventilated onto the roof and into the store’s air conditioning units, he said, causing the smoke.

However, Guard said the damage was minimal.

Smith’s employee Darrel Fokken said the smoke coming from the vents caused the manager to immediately evacuate the store and notify authorities.

Smoke can be seen inside the front door of Smith's Food and Drug, St. George, Utah, August 2, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Smoke can be seen inside the front door of Smith’s food and drug store, St. George, Utah, Aug. 2, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

Five fire engines were dispatched to the scene.

Employees and customers were in the parking lot for over an hour while firefighters investigated and cleared the smoke from inside.

No injuries were reported.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

 

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