by Alan Quick

FIRE crews from Crediton and Exeter dealt with a gas leak from a fridge today, Sunday, December 3, at the Crediton Morrisons store in Mill Street, Crediton.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received a telephone call at 1pm from an Alarm Receiving Centre advising that an alarm had been activated at the supermarket.

Reports were also made of possible smoke in an upstairs warehouse area.

All the customers and staff were evacuated to the store car park when alarms sounded.

Three fire crews, one from Crediton and two from Danes Castle in Exeter attended.

On arrival crews were quickly able to establish that the reports of smoke were actually a gas leaking from the commercial refrigeration system.

Crews used a specialist gas detection monitor to establish which gas was present and used the advice of a DSFRS Hazardous Material and Environmental Protection Officer, who attended the incident, to deal with the leak.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building and used a positive pressure ventilation fan to disperse the gas, making the environment safe again.

A store spokesman said that engineers had been working in the store trying to sort problems with a fridge during the previous week.

Members of staff were advising pedestrians and motorists arriving at the store that it was temporarily closed.

Some shoppers were advised to leave the store mid-way through their shopping.

The store re-opened to the public at 3pm and no-one was injured.