Central El Paso Shopping Center Evacuated After Smoke Seen

EL PASO – Central El Paso’s Costco is evacuated after people inside reported seeing smoke.

The El Paso Fire Department responded just before noon Thursday to Bassett Place near I-10 at Geronimo.

Elevenunits with about 40 firefighters answered the call. Around 100 shoppers and 63 employees were evacuated from Costcoand nearby areas within the mall.

Smoke was visible, coming outfrom several vents, authorities said.Investigators believe a malfunctioning cooling unit was the source of the smoke.

Thanks to quick thinking, the incident was under control quickly,” said Lt.Mario Hernandez, a spokesman for thefire department.”[Crews] did a good job. Luckily, no was injured,” he said.

Damage estimates are not yet available.