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JAMIE JONESFire officials say a can of industrial cleaner likely caused the discomfort for people at the store.
ST. PETERSBURG - The Sears at Tyrone Square Mall was closed for more than two hours Wednesday after several customers and employees complained of skin irritation and shortness of breath, authorities said.
The cause appeared to be a can of industrial cleaner befouling the air in the store's merchandise warehouse for the past three days, fire officials said.
More than 20 police officers and firefighters, including the county's hazardous materials response team, arrived to ensure the store was safe.
One Sears employee drove himself to a hospital on Wednesday morning because of skin irritation, said Lt. Rick Feinberg of St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue.
Another employee was treated on the scene, and one customer was taken to St. Petersburg General Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath, Feinberg said. All appeared to be fine, he said.
Employees told fire officials that they had noticed a strange odor in the warehouse for days and discovered a leaking can. It appeared to contain a solvent thinner that may have been used to clean large equipment, authorities said.
On Tuesday, an employee carried the can to a trash bin outside.
But the smell remained inside the warehouse, and Sears employees called 911 about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, Feinberg said. Initially, firefighters evacuated the merchandise warehouse, but after a customer inside the store complained, they evacuated all of Sears, Feinberg said.
Firefighters reopened the store about 4 p.m.
Sears managers said they had no idea why the chemical mixture was in the store, and said it may have been an older product that had not been used for some time.
- Jamie Jones can be reached at 727 893-8455. Send e-mail to jjones@sptimes.com