Beaufort Wal-Mart briefly closed due to fire Saturday
A fire forced Beaufort Wal-Mart to be evacuated and briefly closed Saturday
An off-duty Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District firefighter, John Norton, was shopping in the store when he saw flames and smoke coming from an outlet inthe meat section, according to a Burton Fire District news release.
Norton pulled a fire alarm and began evacuating shoppers.
Burton firefighters arrived to a smoking and sparking outlet and cut the power to the area. No one was hurt, and shoppers were soon allowed to return to the store.
The fire at the retail giant on Robert Smalls Parkway was small and doesn’t appear to be suspicious, Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Chief Reece Bertholf said.
An electrical problem with a meat cooler is believed to be to blame, Bertholf said.
Burton Fire District, Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department, Beaufort Police and Beaufort County paramedics responded to the call.
Stephen Fastenau: 843-706-8182, @IPBG_Stephen
This story was originally published May 6, 2017 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Beaufort Wal-Mart briefly closed due to fire Saturday."