The new BJ’s Wholesale Club was evacuated on Saturday just before 2 p.m. due to a CO2 leak.
Moore County News arrived on the scene shortly after the initial dispatch and learned that the leak occurred during maintenance on a refrigeration system. A fuse replacement triggered a valve failure, causing CO2 to leak from the compressor into the building.
Authorities reported that the approximately 600-pound tank was situated near the meat department.
The store is under final preparations for their grand opening on March 7, 2025.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.