CO2 leak prompts evacuation at Wilmington’s Costco

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A carbon dioxide leak from a refrigeration system led to the evacuation of customers at the Wilmington Costco on Gingerwood Drive Tuesday afternoon, according to store management.

The Wilmington Fire Department confirmed crews responded to a reported gas leak at the store and said the leak was secured.

A Costco manager said the incident involved CO₂ from the store’s refrigeration system, rather than a traditional natural gas leak.

Customers were evacuated from the building as a precaution while emergency crews responded and worked to address the issue. The store was evacuated for approximately 30 minutes.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.