Shoppers at a Walmart in Wesley Chapel were evacuated around 6 p.m. Friday after a fire alarm activated inside the store.

Witnesses said the store was busy at the time, with many customers in the building for post holiday returns. Staff members reportedly directed shoppers to leave their carts where they were and exit out the front doors. Customers moved out in an orderly manner as the alarm continued.

Pasco County Fire Rescue responded to the location. A store representative later told residents the store was briefly closed after an alarm from the building’s fire control system. The representative indicated there was no fire, but there was minor water damage connected to an issue involving the sprinkler system. The store reopened shortly afterward.

Adding to the confusion outside, witnesses also reported an unrelated crash in the same general area. According to those accounts, a truck ran over a curb and struck two parked vehicles while the evacuation was underway. No additional details were immediately available Friday night.

We will update this story if more information is released.

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