FARMINGTON — Marshalls and Rent-A-Center remained closed Monday after two people felt ill while shopping at the retail store Saturday and were taken to a local hospital, Farmington Fire Rescue Chief Tim “TD” Hardy said.
An inspector for the Maine Fuel Board is expected to be at the site Monday, Hardy said.
There is currently no heat in the buildings. The new Marshalls store opened to the public Nov. 14.
Yellow, do-not-cross ribbon cordoned off the section of plaza Monday that houses the two stores at Hannaford Plaza, 123 Hannaford Drive. Hannaford, which is in a separate building with a space between the other stores remains open.
The issue is between the propane tanks that feed the rooftop heating units to the section that houses Marshalls and Rent-A-Center, Hardy said.
MaineHealth EMS crews evaluated nine patients Saturday morning after a report of propane odor was reported and people were feeling ill. Two of those patients evaluated were take to MaineHealth Franklin Hospital for further treatment.
Farmington Fire Rescue evacuated the buildings and did a full checked of all sides. They checked the propane tanks and shut down the gas to the building and notified the gas company. Crews monitored the interior of the building with two four-gas meters to check the interior of the building.
A low level of propane was detected in one section in the building. The rest of the building, including the adjacent Rent-A-Center store, was also checked with no readings found.
Once the gas company technician arrived on scene and confirmed the gas to the building was completely shut down and locked out.
Fire crews checked HVAC units on the roof and monitored the building to confirm there was no gas present. No readings were found on the four-gas meters. Once this was confirmed that no hazards existed, fire units cleared the scene.
The Fire Rescue Departments reported to this address previously on Thursday and Friday for odors of gas. Marshalls was closed Friday due to the propane issue.
Both those times the building was monitored with no readings found. The gas was shut down and the gas company responded with a technician to test the system both times. Out of caution Hardy recommended that the building remain closed till the issue could be resolved.
The department contacted property management representatives along with managers from the two stores who agreed to close until the issue has been resolved.
This closure does not affect the Hannaford Supermarket. Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Farmington Police Department.
