Insect killer caused New Jersey Walmart evacuation, sent 19 people to hospital, officials say

An aerosol can of insect killer was behind the evacuation and closure of the Walmart store in Deptford, New Jersey, on Tuesday, emergency officials said. 

The entire supercenter was evacuated after Gloucester County officials said they had received multiple 911 calls about something in the air that was irritating both workers and customers.

An aerosol canister of Hot Shot Flying Insect Killer fell beneath a shelf and came open, investigators found. The product sprayed out, causing irritation, according to a news release from the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management. 

Officials said there was no evidence of malicious intent.

"When fire personnel pulled up on scene, they were met with a large number of people, about two dozen, coming outside coughing and being irritated by something," Andrew Halter, the chief of hazmat for Gloucester County, said. 

People who were working and shopping said they could smell something in the air, and many people said they could feel it in their throat, describing it as a burning sensation.

"It got in my throat, like a gas smell," Tony Patton, of Deptford, said. "Burning sensation, yes."

"I did see a man going into the woods," said Crystal Davison, who is from Mullica Hill. "He was coughing. He fell down to the ground."

Davison said she delivers for Walmart and was trying to go in as everyone was coming out.

"It is nerve-racking because you don't really know what it is," she said.

Officials said about 19 people were taken to the hospital for evaluation. 

The store was closed until 8 a.m. Wednesday for deep cleaning. 

"Some of their supply may be down during that time because they're going to be discarding some things that were open air," Halter said. "Such as produce and baked goods and things like that, just out of an abundance of caution."

Officials said after assessing the situation, there were no longer any hazards in the store.