A huge fire ignited the roof of a Walmart, where customers were seen appearing to walk calmly out despite the emergency situation.
‘Yo, Walmart is on fire, bro,’ a person can be heard saying in a video recorded by a shopper.
The blaze required five fire departments and three responding police officers were hospitalized as a result. It started around 7pm on Wednesday at a store in Peachtree City, Georgia, officials said.
City fire rescue officials arrived on the scene by about 7.30pm and advised locals to stay way from the area. By 9.17pm, firefighters closed portions of Highway 54 near the store’s entrance.
Firefighters from Fayette, Fayette County, Newnan and Coweta counties were all called in to assist in fighting the blaze, which was about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta.
Videos taken by customers showed the fire engulfing the back of the store as shoppers did not appear terrified.
Other videos showed Walmart employees directing customers towards the door while yelling, ‘Everybody out!’
No customers or employees have reported any injuries.
Outside the store, videos showed black clouds of smoke billowing from the roof.
Parts of the roof began to collapse while firefighters were still inside, the incident commander, Assistant Fire Chief Wil Harbin, told Fox 5 Atlanta.
It took first responders hours to contain the blaze. Highway 54 reopened about half an hour after midnight. Afterward, three police officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Authorities have not yet identified what started the fire. The fire rescue is conducting an investigation and trying to determine if arson was a factor. Officials have asked customers to report any suspicious behavior seen in the back of the store.
The Walmart will remain closed until further notice, the store announced on its Facebook page.
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