Fire fighters investigating a gas leak turn out to be the cause

When the residents of the Brabant town of Oisterwijk smelled the pungent odor of gas on Wednesday, they called their local fire department, who turned out to be the culprits.

Fire fighters spent the morning searching for a gas leak to no avail. Together with gas provider Enexis, they tested levels throughout the town but could not find a source, only the smell.

Meanwhile, back at the fire station, staff discovered a canister of THT was missing. The chemical is added to gas, which is naturally odorless, to so that people can smell any leak immediately.

The cannister had been accidently thrown out and had spent the morning in the back of a garbage truck, which was making its rounds.

“We were able to have a laugh about it for a moment,” firefighter Ronald Blokpoel told Omroep Brabant.

Residents may continue to smell gas for a time while the chemical dissipates. The fire depart warns there is no danger to public health.