Chemical Odor Forces Evacuation of New Towne Mall Tuesday

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Nov. 11, 2026) — A strong chemical odor prompted the evacuation of the New Towne Mall Tuesday evening after vapors from a flooring project spread through the building.

New Philadelphia Fire Captain Matthew Graham said firefighters were sent to the Entrance B area near the China Buffet wing at approximately 5:18 p.m. after a customer reported an odor resembling acetone.

According to Graham, crews traced the smell to a contractor applying sealant to a store floor without adequate ventilation, allowing chemical vapors to circulate into the mall’s common areas.

As a precaution, the mall was evacuated while firefighters opened exterior doors and used fans to ventilate the building. Graham said the process took about an hour. Air-monitoring equipment detected the vapors, but readings never reached hazardous levels and eventually returned to zero.

A few workers staffing a blood drive reported headaches and were evaluated by paramedics at the scene. None required hospitalization.

The mall closed early because of the incident. Firefighters remained on scene until about 7 p.m. Tuesday.