Hazmat emergency reported at Costco in Winston-Salem

A hazmat emergency caused by a refrigerant leak at a Costco on Hanes Mall Boulevard in Winston-Salem prompted an evacuation earlier Monday afternoon. The Winston-Salem Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 4:45 p.m. due to the refrigerant leak.Joia Mock said she was shopping at the warehouse when the evacuation began.”As I’m walking towards the back, an employee is shouting out get out the store and I’m like get out the store,” Mock said.Mock described the scene as frantic, with people rushing to leave. “You start seeing people keep going out the store, hitting each other and trying to get out the store like hold on wait, letting others know that may not have known about it,” she said.The fire department said four employees were evaluated by Forsyth County EMS during the incident.”At the moment I couldn’t smell anything, there was nothing that you could see in the eye,” Mock said. “It was hot in there but that was pretty much it,” she added.The store remained closed for the rest of the evening. WXII reached out to Costco corporate regarding plans to resume normal hours and is waiting to hear back. This is a developing story; check back for updates. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here

A hazmat emergency caused by a refrigerant leak at a Costco on Hanes Mall Boulevard in Winston-Salem prompted an evacuation earlier Monday afternoon.

The Winston-Salem Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 4:45 p.m. due to the refrigerant leak.

Joia Mock said she was shopping at the warehouse when the evacuation began.

“As I’m walking towards the back, an employee is shouting out get out the store and I’m like get out the store,” Mock said.

Mock described the scene as frantic, with people rushing to leave.

“You start seeing people keep going out the store, hitting each other and trying to get out the store like hold on wait, letting others know that may not have known about it,” she said.

The fire department said four employees were evaluated by Forsyth County EMS during the incident.

“At the moment I couldn’t smell anything, there was nothing that you could see in the eye,” Mock said. “It was hot in there but that was pretty much it,” she added.

The store remained closed for the rest of the evening. WXII reached out to Costco corporate regarding plans to resume normal hours and is waiting to hear back.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here