The meter was located near the Deming Road access, behind Sam’s Club, a vacant store heated by gas. Home Depot was evacuated for about an hour, but other stores in the plaza were not open at the time and therefore not affected.

Deputy Fire Marshal Matt Odishoo said it appeared that water draining from the roof had accumulated into a “giant icicle” over the meter, impeding the free flow of gas, and that the apparatus finally gave way. The ice problem was noticed a couple of weeks ago, but apparently not addressed.

Sam’s Club had a slight odor of gas but no reading showed up on a meter during Tuesday’s inspection. Odishoo said the plan being worked out with Cedar Manangement, the plaza’s management company, is to shut off all utilities to Sam’s Club at this time.