Brookfield Target Evacuated After Walk-In Freezer Refrigerant Leak, No Injuries

Firefighters and hazardous-materials crews evacuated the Target on Bluemound Road near 124th and Bluemound in Brookfield, Wis., after responders found a refrigerant leak coming from a large walk-in commercial freezer, Brookfield officials said. Dispatchers received a call about the leak at 1:50 p.m., and crews were dispatched shortly before 2 p.m., the Brookfield Fire Department said.

Crews arriving on scene immediately initiated a systematic size-up and hazard assessment and quickly identified the source as a leaking refrigerant from the walk-in freezer, according to local reporting summarizing the on-scene response. Firefighters classified the event as a hazardous materials release and confined the refrigerant to the freezer and the immediate surrounding area while personnel worked to secure the store.

Officials evacuated the building out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with established hazardous materials response protocols, the Brookfield Fire Department said. Brookfield police confirmed to WISN 12 News that the refrigerant leak prompted the evacuation, and responders were in the process of securing the store during the afternoon response.

A store manager told WISN 12 News, “no one was injured or sickened by the leak.” Initial updates were unclear about injuries, but later reporting from WISN and WTMJ summarized that no injuries were reported after crews completed their hazardous-materials work. WISN updated its account at 4:44 PM CST Feb. 25, 2026 with later confirmations.

Local coverage noted the business was able to reopen safely after the incident. FOX6 News Milwaukee reported that the Target was able to resume operations once the release was contained and crews cleared the scene.

Authorities have not disclosed the type of refrigerant involved, the volume released, or the cause of the leak; those specifics were not included in initial agency statements. Reports did not indicate whether state or federal agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, OSHA, or EPA were notified or took part in the response, and Target corporate comment was not present in the initial local accounts.

Brookfield Fire Department provided the primary operational details to local outlets, with police corroboration of the evacuation and a store manager confirming there were no injuries. Further technical details and any follow-up inspection findings have not yet been released.