Chemical fumes prompt evacuations in downtown Beaufort - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

The Beaufort Fire Dept. was called to Pay Street at about 10 a.m. Wednesday for a possible structure fire.

When they got there, they discovered that there wasn't a strcture fire. There was an odor coming from Modern Jewelers at 807 Bay St. The jewelry store was using a mixture of chemicals to clean jewelry. 

Several businesses in the area were evacuated due to the fumes, and three of the employees of the store were sent to the hospital for respiratory issues. 

The fire department says they have been released. They said Bay Street was shut down for about two hours. 

The store has also reopened.