False gas leak report prompts evacuations in Downtown SLO

Hate to disagree with the experts. However, according to the CDC, “hydraulic fluids have a bland, oily smell and others have no smell” and according to mechanics, overheated hydraulic fluid only has a ‘burnt’ smell. Those of us in the area experienced a strong sulphur odor and it was pervasive, covering the surrounding blocks, including inside and behind multiple story buildings. Even with a ‘bland, oily smell,’ a 2 foot wide puddle of hydraulic oil could not have possibly produced such a large coverage of sulphur-type odor as was experienced by those working in the area. I also experienced physical symptoms that lasted most the day and initially could hardly breath. Numerous businesses needed to be evacuated because of the overpowering odor. A fellow downtown employee said he began walking the block where the spill was located – before emergency personnel had arrived – but was unable due the “overpowering gas smell.” He also observed a DocuTeam truck parked in the area where the spill was found but did not observe any smoke or spillage. Perhaps the smell originated by a parked truck of some type, and yet the sulpher smell lasted for well over an hour and long after the last truck left. Out of curiosity, just how old are the gas pipes buried under our city streets and our turn-of-the-century buildings? And does the new hotel currently under construction on Morro and Palm (which is also upwind from where the odor was experienced) have gas hook-up yet?