PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Walmart was evacuated Sunday morning due to an electrical fire.
Just before 7 AM the reporting party told 911, the fire was outside next to the store’s large propane tank with smoke and fire visible.
Clallam 2 Fire Rescue arrived to find a fire in the propane vaporizer and not an electrical box approximately 20 feet from an 18,000 gallon propane tank. The fire was not impinging on the tank however; it was putting off excessive amounts of heat threatening to warm the propane tank. Fire crews worked to keep the tank cool and getting the tank shut off while WalMart employees and managers assisted with evacuation of the store as well as the campers from the parking lot.
WalMart was closed for approximately 3 hours during the incident. The exact cause was undetermined due to the extensive damage to the vaporizer.