After evacuating two high-rise buildings in downtown Salt Lake Tuesday, firefighters concluded that odor from a possible gas leak was probably from bus fumes.
Occupants of the Boston and Newhouse Buildings at Exchange Place (350 South) and Main Street went home or shopping, or waited for nearly an hour as fire crews searched the 11-story buildings for possible leaks.Deborah Dwarff, an employee in the Boston Building, said she and co-workers noticed the smell when they emerged from a conference room around noon and passed by a stairwell in the center of the building.
Others said they did not notice the smell until they heard fire engines.
"We came down to the foyer to see what was going on and they told us we had to leave the building," said Alicia Call, an employee in the Boston Building. "Most of us that were evacuated went shopping."
Firefighters had received word of a strong natural gas odor in both buildings at 12:38 p.m. The odor was also reported at the First Security Building next door, but no one was evacuated.
Police and firefighters were about to evacuate the adjacent buildings east to State Street when fire crews reported they were unable to find any trace of leaking gas.
Fire crews believe the odor may have originated from a differential, the part that connects two axles, on a UTA bus that overheated immediately before the reported smell.
"It seems unusual," said Capt. Dan Andrus. "But this is the only thing we can find to explain the odor. The smoke from the bus has a similar smell to natural gas."
Hazardous-material crews stayed at the scene to investigate other possible causes.