Safeway on Shattuck Now Open After Refrigerant Leak

A harmless leak of a refrigerant known as "R22" has leaked at the . Store employees said the supermarket will reopen later this afternoon. 

"The Berkeley police department got called out here because someone saw what looked like smoke on the roof," said Berkeley Fire Department Battlion Chief Avery Webb. "But it turned out it was just a refrigeration leak."

The sighting was around 2:30 p.m.

A refrigeration specialist called to the scene told the fire department the leak is harmless to humans and to the environment.

Shopping carts blocked the store's entrances this afternoon, as employees turned customers away while evaluating the store.

The Safeway will remain closed until employees verify its refrigerated foods have not perished, according to Webb. They are also ventilating the store to get rid of the refrigerant's odor.

UPDATE 7/1: A store employee said the Safeway reopened at 7 p.m. on Thursday and is now operating normally.