BREAKING NEWS: Gas Fumes at my Hometown's Abandoned Dept. Store

[texasstooge]

Fear of fire triggers Irving evacuation

By JONATHAN BETZ / WFAA-TV

IRVING, Texas — Fear that a gasoline-soaked building could catch fire led to the evacuation of other buildings and homes near the Plymouth Park Shopping Center in Irving Friday night.

A potentially dangerous concentration of gasoline fumes was detected in a now-vacant building that once housed a Fazio's department store.

Officials shut down power and evacuated dozens of homes and businesses out of fear the building could ignite.

"A fireman came and told us we have to get out," said Emily Escobar. "It's kind of scary."

The evacuation order came after neighboring businesses began calling 911 to complain about the distinctive aroma of gasoline in the area. When emergency crews arrived, they could smell the fumes from hundreds of feet away.
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I had many memories of that facility when it was still open as Fazio's...now it's a dormant building for 10 years.

It's a shame to see what's happening right now.

[curtjr4]

Well, I hope no one  's around there

Anyway, did they find the cause to the fumes?

[texasstooge]

Well, I hope no one  's around there

Anyway, did they find the cause to the fumes?

As it turns out, a cleaning crew was using 50 gallons of gasoline to lift the tiles up faster. This has spawned major gas fumes and they could be sniffed from 100 yeards away. They could've used dry ice for that same method or just use a simple basic scraper which may take weeks (maybe months), but it gets the old tiles off safely. No, they had to use GAS!!!

After a few hours, residents returned to their homes and businesses resumed the next day.

[curtjr4]

They were renovating? Or why were they tearing up tiles? And when did that take place?

[texasstooge]

They were renovating? Or why were they tearing up tiles? And when did that take place?

Yes. From what I was told, they're gonna reopen the store...probably as another one of those Dollar Stores (like we don't have enough of those in my hometown). I think they're trying to replace the old tiling with new ones. This renovation has been going on since the summer of 2007 with the tile replacement just happening the past few days.