Giant evacuated after six people sickened by gas leak

The Giant grocery store near Rehoboth Beach was evacuated Dec. 28 after several people became ill.

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co. was called at 12:20 p.m. to the store at 19312 Lighthouse Plaza Blvd. for a report that several people had become sick inside the store, said Warren Jones, fire company spokesman. The building was evacuated, and Rehoboth firefighters wearing self-contained breathing apparatus entered the building to locate the source of the problem, Jones said. While the firefighters were working, he said, Rehoboth Fire Company emergency medical technicians and Sussex County Paramedics set up a triage and treatment area in the parking lot. Six people were evaluated, and one was transported to the hospital.

The source of the problem was discovered to be a gas leak from an HVAC unit on the roof, Jones said.