Maricopa Wal-Mart closed (Updated)

The Maricopa Wal-Mart is closed at this time. Police and fire are on scene in response to a gas leak at the store.

More information will follow when available.

Update: Fire crews from Maricopa and Gila River, in addition to Southwest Gas, responded to what was believed to be a gas leak in the store early this morning. However, after multiple sweeps of the building, none of the agencies were able to detect a leak.

Upon initially responding, fire crews evacuated roughly 80 employees and 44 customers from the store and detoured traffic at the intersection of Porter Road and the Maricopa/Casa Grande Highway.

Eight people were treated on the scene for vomiting, and one was transported to the hospital.

“All of these people were in the bakery, but we are unsure of what induced the vomiting and sickness,” said Maricopa Fire Department’s public information officer Brad Pitassi.

The store and all nearby roads have been re-opened as of 11:15 a.m.

Photo by Brenda Hermanson