Mysterious gasoline-like smell sweeps South Brooklyn
An unidentified smell of gas has been sweeping across parts of south Brooklyn and now multiple city and state agencies are trying to figure out what the source is.
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Residents in South Brooklyn say they have been smelling gasoline for weeks.
Some Sheepshead Bay residents took to social media, writing, "it just fills your nose” and "it’s like getting a whiff of gasoline into your mouth.“
“It smells!” Sheepshead Bay resident Zack Badalov said.
The FDNY says it received a report of a smell of gas at the intersection of Avenue Z and E 26th Street and notified National Grid. News 12 cameras captured workers drilling small holes into the ground to investigate the odor.
Neighbors have also reported smelling gas near Shore Parkway and Sheepshead Bay Road and across other parts of South Brooklyn.
One resident has a “South Brooklyn gasoline odor tracker" that has received more than 90 online reports in the past week.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn council member Inna Vernikov says she has been receiving calls about the smell for more than a month.
“Immediately we contacted agencies. We've been in touch with FDNY, DEP and other agencies as well,” Vernikov told News 12.
She also said the FDNY inspected all gas stations in zip codes 11229, 11233 and 11235. And the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been flushing sewer lines.
In a statement sent directly to News 12, a DEP spokesperson wrote, "DEP is assisting in an investigation into reports of gas odors in South Brooklyn that is being led by NYS DEC, in coordination with EPA and FDNY."
In a statement, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, which is also working on the investigation, wrote, “There is no definitive evidence at this time of the source of the odors. Once found, DEC will hold the responsible party accountable for the impacts faced by the South Brooklyn community and the environment."
DEC also said it is working with the city’s Fire Department, DEP, Emergency Management, and the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency.
Vernikov says her office is pushing to meet with all the involved agencies next week to get answers.
"Are there health impacts for the public? Is it dangerous? Is it toxic?" Vernikov said. "I know that also constituents have been complaining about difficulty breathing in some areas. So this is a very, very serious issue, and we will keep advocating."
News 12 will continue to share updates as it gets more information.
Anyone suspected a gas leak is urged to seek safety and call 311 or 911.
