Mariano's in Palatine evacuated after small Freon leak

Mariano's Fresh Market on Hicks Road in Palatine was evacuated for about 15 minutes Wednesday after a small Freon leak, authorities said.

Palatine police, who are headquartered next to the Mariano's, and firefighters were summoned to the store at 12:23 p.m. Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Gratzianna said an employee heard a pop above a ceiling and noticed some haze, then alerted a Mariano's manager who called for first responders.

Firefighters using air meters and monitors deemed the building safe from the "very small" Freon leak before allowing it to be reoccupied, Gratzianna said.

Maintenance crews were brought in to fix the problem traced to a copper pipe in a vacant area between the drop ceiling and roof. Gratzianna said firefighters were at the Mariano's for about two hours.