Parole, Md. A small fire at an Anne Arundel County grocery store turned frustrating for firefighters Wednesday when some shoppers refused to budge from the checkout lines even as smoke filled the aisles.
Fire investigators said the blaze at the Giant at the Festival at Riva shopping center started in the paper products section and sent smoke wafting through the entire store, but still some customers didn't get out of line to pay for their groceries.
Anne Arundel County Fire Lieutenant Russ Davies says customers were still in the store when firefighters arrived and that their sluggishness was "extremely dangerous."
He says firefighters had to split their efforts between battling the blaze and escorting shoppers out of the store.
Customers said they didn't mind shopping through the fire and were disappointed firefighters forced them outside.
