Jan. 14--CENTER TWP. -- Things seemed to be back to normal at the Center Township Walmart store on Sunday, one day after the store was evacuated and closed for several hours, after customers and employees became ill inside.
But while the problem that caused the illnesses seemed to have cleared up, its cause remained a mystery.
"Our readings didn't come up with anything, (Beaver County Hazardous Materials Team) didn't come up with anything," said Center's fire Chief Bill Brucker on Sunday. "I don't know if we'll ever find out the cause."
Center firefighters were sent to the store around 7 p.m. Saturday, after both customers and store employees became ill inside the store, Brucker said.
"There was nausea, some vomiting, and several cases of upper respiratory issues," Brucker said. "The decision was made to evacuate the store while we tried to figure out what was going on."
Brucker said the cause seemed to be centered near the back of the sprawling store, on the grocery side; Walmart workers had roped off several aisles in that area.
"I wasn't back there long before I started to feel something in my throat," he said. "I couldn't pinpoint a smell or a cause, though."
Center firefighters used some of the department's equipment to test air quality in the store, but Brucker said he also called in the county's haz-mat crew to conduct further tests.
"They couldn't get good readings, though, because the store had reversed the (heating and air-conditioning system) and the air was clearing," Brucker said.
Officials at Walmart's corporate office did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Brucker didn't know how many people were sickened in the store, but two people were taken by ambulance to be evaluated; at least three others went to the hospital in private vehicles. Brucker said he hadn't heard reports that any of the illnesses were serious.
Emergency officials left the store around 11 p.m., and the store re-opened around midnight, Brucker said.
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