FIREFIGHTERS have revealed the cause of the chilli fumes which led to the New Chester Market and its adjacent car park being closed on Saturday, January 27.
Five fire engines were deployed to hunter Street shortly before noon on Saturday, plus an environmental protection unit, amid reports of fumes affecting customers at the market that morning.
There was initial mystery at what had caused the chilli fumes to spread throughout the premises, as a cordon was established around the market as a precaution and to help emergency services move unimpeded around the site.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus conducted a thorough search of the premises but there was no sign of fire or smoke.
Crews co-ordinated the evacuation of the market while investigation into the cause of the fumes continued.
This was later found to have been due to the cooking of a quantity of chilli oil, vapour from which had entered the ventilation system.
The market reopened as normal on Sunday and will continue its normal trading on Tuesday.
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