SDFD Looks Into a Mystery Stench

People in numerous San Diego neighborhoods including La Jolla and Del Mar Heights have been reporting a chemical-type odor since 2 p.m., but firefighters have not been able to find the source of the stench.

The smells were described as odors similar to kerosene, diesel fuel, bus exhaust and lighter fluid, according to Maurice, Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Several residents of La Jolla reported on Twitter that they too smelled a strange odor. One described the scent as smelling like exhaust.

Luque added that crews checked reports of the smell in La Jolla, Del Mar Heights, Scripps Ranch, Hillcrest and downtown San Diego.

“They can’t isolate what it is,” said Luque.

By Wednesday evening there were no reports that the vapors led to any physical ailments, reported Luque.

The unexplained phenomenon is similar to an episode that occurred about a year ago, when people in various San Diego beach areas began complaining of a lingering stink comparable to rotten eggs.    Authorities eventually determined that decaying vegetation in and around estuaries and ocean inlets was to blame for the foul smell, Luque said.

City News Service contributed to this report.