5 Hospitalized In Freon Leak At Hazlet Costco Store

HAZLET, NJ — Five people were taken to the hospital to be treated after a freon leak that happened in a Costco store in Hazlet, according to the Hazlet Police Department

The store never opened for business on Wednesday but several employees who were inside the building complained of headaches and nausea related to the gas leak, police said.

At this time, there is no threat of an explosion, police said.

The first call about a leak stemming from the building came in at 6:37 a.m. It was reported that Costco had contractors working on the refrigeration systems.

By around 7 a.m., the contractors isolated the leak and started airing out the building naturally, police said.

During that morning period, Costco started preparing for a delayed store opening, which never ended up happening.

A smell of burning plastic and freon was reported at approximately 9:24 a.m. — around the same time some of the employees started complaining they were feeling symptoms.

The Hazlet Township Police Department subsequently set up a command post on the campus of Costco. Fire Department crews, New Jersey Natural Gas and Monmouth County HazMat surveyed the area and began to check the building to ensure it was safe. The Monmouth County EMS Task Force, partnered alongside EMS units from Hazlet, Keansburg, Union Beach, Middletown, Keyport and others began to quickly assess those employees impacted by the leak.

Four employees were taken to Bayshore Medical Center and one to Riverview Medical Center. One of them was sent to urgent care.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden commended first responders who were called to the scene.

"Great job to #MCSONJ’s EMS Task Force & OEM, first responders from the Bayshore area and Monmouth County Hazmat for their quick response to the scene to ensure health and safety," Golden said.

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