Update: 2 Hospitalized in Suspected Freon Leak at Plainview Fairway

Plainview Firefighters have confirmed that two people were treated for possible exposure to freon gas Friday at the on Manetto Hill Road.

Firefighters dispatched multiple emergency units to the scene at the Manetto Hill Mall, a fire dispatcher said. Two people were transported from the supermarket to a local hospital, firefighters said. 

The extent of injuries, if any, is unknown.

The leak was reported shortly before noon Friday. The initial report indicated that a total of 17 people were exposed to the gas.

Freon is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane, according to Wikipedia.

Freon is a DuPont trade name commonly used as refrigerants, propellants (in aerosol applications) and solvents. 

There is no confirmation that the gas was freon at this time, although firefighters said they suspected the leak came from a refrigerator unit in the store. Further details were unavailable.

The store remained open yesterday afternoon to shoppers. Emergency crews had left the scene.

A worker outside the Fairway said he had been ordered not to speak about the incident and referred questions to Fairway's corporate offices.

The corporate offices did not immediately return a phone call for reaction.