It was a mystery, alright.
One that sent two people to the hospital, forced the evacuation of a nearby RV park, closed down a street and even warranted a visit from the Air Force.
And it’s still a mystery.
Around 9:45 p.m. Thursday, the Arvada Fire Department began receiving complaints about an odor on West 44th Avenue between Tabor and North Robb streets, Arvada fire spokeswoman Michelle Chermiske said. The area is in Wheat Ridge but close to the city’s border with Arvada.
Six people fell ill from the odor, two of them were taken to a hospital, she said. Arvada’s hazmat team began to investigating, pinpointing the odor to a shed next to a pool in the back of a home. But even with the source located, hazmat crews weren’t sure what the chemical odor was.
With the odor remaining a mystery, Arvada called for the help of a civil support team from Buckley Air Force Base that specializes in hazmat situations, Chermiske said.
Prospect RV Park, which is across the street, was evacuated as were nearby houses. A reverse 911 call went out for the surrounding 14 blocks. Wheat Ridge police shut down West 44th Avenue.
But as Friday wore into early afternoon, the odor dissipated, leaving the Buckley team with little to work with. The area has been deemed safe again and the road is set to reopen.
