BY LINDA BENTLEY | FEBRUARY 27, 2013
Foul odor causes temporary evacuation
CAREFREE – Rural/Metro Fire responded to a smell of gas call at the Carefree Marketplace (Bashas' center) on Feb. 20.
People reported smelling a foul odor from as far away as Dairy Queen in Cave Creek that morning.
Chief John Kraetz said after arriving on the scene they were unable to tell just by smelling if the odor was natural gas or sewer, so, as a precaution, they evacuated the businesses on the north end of the complex and called Southwest Gas.
After performing an inspection, Southwest Gas personnel determined it was not a natural gas leak and the odor was indeed from the sewer.
Kraetz said sewer odors can occur when cold air sinks into the system. And, judging by the unusual snowstorm later that same afternoon, Carefree did experience some cold weather that day.
According to Kraetz, approximately 10 businesses were inconvenienced for about an hour as a result.
