‘Chemical’ odor causes evacuation at Fry’s

NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- More than 50 employees and shoppers were

evacuated from Fry’s Electronics after a chemical odor filled the store

that may have come from a heating unit, fire officials said.

The store was evacuated Monday morning after several people reported

smelling an odor that could not be identified, said Burbank Fire Capt..

Bob Ramsey.

One customer complained of watery eyes and a sore throat but said that

he felt better after leaving the store and drinking a cup of water, a

paramedic said.

The Burbank Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials unit was called to

the scene. Members of the unit suited up in protective outfits to test

the air for any contamination, but none was found, Ramsey said.

“The only thing left was the heater that had just been serviced,”

Ramsey said. “It hadn’t been run in more than a year.”

Ramsey said a Los Angeles County hazardous materials officer also came

to the store and agreed with the fire department’s conclusion that there

was no danger.