Printer-friendly version
Story and photos by Nadin Abbott
July 27, 2012 (El Cajon)—The Home Depot store at 298 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon was evacuated this afternoon after employees reported a suspicious odor at 2:34 p.m. 
According to Deputy Chief Rick Sitta, El Cajon-Heartland Fire and Rescue, before emergency responders arrived, four people already had gone home and EMS took care of nine people at the scene, but none were transported to the hospital.
“Victims were complaining of nausea and a metallic taste in their mouths,” Sitta said.
Heartland Fire and Rescue in EL Cajon was assisted by Hazmat teams from both San Diego County and the City of San Diego. They did a search inside the store to look for the source of the noxious fumes.
The source of the smell was determined to be a broken bottle of Malathion (pesticide) in the garden area of the store, according to Monica Zech, public information officer for the City of El Cajon.
According to Sitta the first priority of responders was the safety of employees. “Home Depot did a fantastic job in evacuating the store,” he said.
Employees were sent home, but the store was expected to reopen later this evening, Zech reported at 6:30 p.m.
Recent comments