Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews responded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Dentistry on East Campus Thursday after reports of a gas odor inside the building prompted an evacuation.
LFR Battalion Chief Jim Bopp tells KLIN News one person felt ill after noticing the smell, but declined medical treatment. Firefighters searched the building and used gas detection equipment but Bopp says the department’s monitors did not detect anything approaching a flammable or explosive concentration.
As a precaution, everyone inside the building was evacuated while crews investigated. Bopp said the evacuation was appropriate and followed established safety procedures. Black Hills Energy was called to the scene to further investigate the source of the odor.
Bopp says it may have been a very small gas leak or possibly a lingering odor from an older leak. He also told KLIN News that natural gas is treated with mercaptan, an additive that gives it its distinct smell and can sometimes leave odors behind long after a leak has been repaired.
After firefighters determined there was no immediate danger, everyone was allowed back into the building. Bopp says the odor appeared to be more of a nuisance than a hazard, although certain smells can make some people feel ill depending on their health conditions.
Black Hills crews are continuing to determine the exact source of the odor.