A Strange Smell in Air Had Redlands Residents Dialing 911

Did something smell funny to many of you today?

Many Redlands residents did detect the smell of natural gas in the air between 4:43 and 6:27 p.m. and reported it to 911, according to Carl Baker, city spokesman.

What may have caused the smell may remain a mystery however. As of late Wednesday afternoon, Redlands Fire Department and Southern California Gas Company were been unable to determine the source, Baker said.

The smell had been reported in northeast Redlands and Mentone, Baker said.

“Multiple reports of the odor were received by 911 operators Tuesday,” he said through a news release. “Both Fire Department personnel and Gas Company representatives, using gas monitoring equipment, determined no presence of natural gas and no reports were received after 6:27 p.m. Tuesday.”

There were no reports of illnesses or other difficulties associated with the odor, Baker added.

When contacted – by Redlands Fire officials – the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Diamond Bar said they had not received any reports. But they have launched an investigation to determine the cause, Baker said.

AQMD officials remind residents to report any air quality issue to (800) CUT-SMOG.