Safeway store in Sweet Home, OR evacuated due to carbon monxide and hydrogen sulfide from faulty batteries in cleaning equipment, not natural gas leak.

A hazardous gas incident at a Safeway store in Sweet Home, Oregon, prompted an evacuation on October 1. Firefighters initially investigated a reported natural gas leak but discovered that faulty batteries in a floor cleaning machine and a pallet jack were emitting carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. The building was ventilated and cleared by 1:20 p.m. One employee experienced mild symptoms but did not require hospitalization. Emergency teams were commended for their swift response.