By: JASMYN BEMBOOM
Staff Writer
A fire inside a Visalia big-box store caused shoppers and employees to evacuate Sunday night. Around 7:30 pm, the fire crews responded to Target on Mooney Boulevard for reports of the fire. At least one of the fitting rooms was damaged.
According to Battalion Chief Darrin, before fire crews were on the scene, Target employees tried to put out the fire and quickly evacuate the store.
Once the first firefighters arrived, the crew searched the building to make sure the fire was out and everyone was out of the building. Then they worked with the Target staff to remove the smoke from the building.
One employee was treated and released for smoke inhalation, Hughes said.
Although firefighters can’t say how much damage the fire caused to the merchandise inside the store.
Hughes states, “There was no damage to the building valued at approximately $2 million or more.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and fire investigators are working with the Police Department to investigate the incident. The store was reopened to the public on Monday with a smoke-damaged section taped off.