The Mansfield Fire Department has received numerous calls reporting an odor of natural gas in businesses and residences throughout our city. Our crews have responded to all of these incidents and used advanced metering devices to check for the presence of explosive gases. All checks have come back negative; however, the distinct odor of gas is present.
We are currently in contact with representatives from Columbia Gas to determine potential causes for the odor.
Mercaptan is an additive used in natural gas to give it a distinct smell. The presence of the smell does not necessarily mean there are dangerous levels of gas.
If you smell an odor of gas, you can attempt to ventilate your home or business by opening windows or doors. If you have a concern, or are feeling ill, please call 911 and we will send a crew to check the gas levels.