By Associated Press - Friday, May 15, 2015

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) - Three people have been taken to a Hastings hospital as a precaution following a natural gas leak at a discount department store.

Hastings television station KHAS-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1KSKBHr ) that a forklift hit a heater inside a Walmart at Hastings on Friday, causing the leak.

Hastings Fire Chief Kent Gilbert says employees worked to keep customers safe. He says the building was evacuated, then ventilated.

Gilbert says the three taken to a hospital were treated because they had smelled the gas. Natural gas is colorless and odorless, but an odor is added to it as a safety measure to help people detect leaks.

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Information from: KHAS-TV, https://www.khastv.com

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