Did you smell a chemical odor in Orange County Thursday?
A fuel-like smell that some have likened to turpentine or lighter fluid wafted over Orange County on Thursday evening, August 16.
Police departments, many in the beach cities, received several calls from residents asking where the aroma was coming from but so far the answer is unknown.
Patrick Chandler, a representative for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said that the district received calls from residents of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Anaheim Hills and Orange, saying they “smelled a chemical odor.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve had a complaint about odors traveling the western side of O.C.,” Chandler said.
The odor prompted several discussions among Orange County residents on social media who voiced their concerns and theories, some of them suggesting it could be from offshore drilling or spraying from vector control.
Costa Mesa Fire Department Capt. Chris Coates said Friday morning that Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control representatives said their spraying is odorless.
The agency sprayed for mosquitoes on Wednesday and Thursday in several Orange County cities after recently detecting some of them carried West Nile virus.
We have received several calls reporting an area chemical smell. Reports are that several cities are experiencing similar conditions. Fire crews responded to investigate and the source is unfounded. We recommend closing windows & doors.
— Costa Mesa FD (@CMFD_PIO) August 17, 2018
The previous tweet regarding the chemical smell that was believed to be as a result of @ocvector performing mosquito abatement has been found to be untrue according to OC Vector representatives. The product is “odorless” and “targeted” says Mary-Joy Covern.
— Costa Mesa FD (@CMFD_PIO) August 17, 2018
Chandler said that he can’t speak to the rumor that the smell was a result of vector control spraying, but SCAQMD has dispatched inspectors to investigate the source of the odor.
The city of Huntington Beach also shared that it was aware of the smell. Some agencies advised that residents contact the Air Quality Management District at 1-800-288-7664.
People who experience abnormal medical symptoms should call 911, firefighters said.
We have received many reports of a strong odor traveling through the city. The smell has traveled throughout many OC cities. We have made notifications to the proper authorities for follow up. At this time we do not know where the odor is originating from.
— Huntington Beach FD (@HBFD_PIO) August 17, 2018