Bellingham received dozens of reports of a concerning odor. Here’s what investigators learned
A sulfur-like odor was heavy throughout Bellingham on Tuesday night, prompting more than 70 calls to dispatchers in less than an hour. The odor faded by Wednesday morning, with no apparent source discovered following an investigation by the Bellingham Fire Department.
The odor was first reported around 5:30 p.m. near the 500 block of Briar Road, but reports soon came out across the Bellingham area.
This is not the first time a smell like this has overcome Bellingham. Most recently, in 2017, the fire department was overwhelmed with calls regarding an unusual odor. Like Tuesday night, a source of the odor was never discovered.
At the time, Assistant Chief Bill Hewett told The Herald this isn’t an uncommon occurrence, and it can often happen on warm days with a strong south wind. He said there may be a connection with the low tide. However, the low tide was relatively high at the time.
The wind and tidal conditions from 2017 match the conditions Tuesday, which had a southerly wind of about 7 mph, and a relatively high, low tide at plus-6.5 feet around 5:30. However, there is still no other evidence that the incidents are connected.
The fire department also reached out to BNSF Railways to see if the odor could be coming from any trains, Capt. Dustin Michaelis said. There was a train in Bellingham around the time the odor was reported, but it wasn’t transporting any cargo.
The investigation has been taken over by the Northwest Clean Air Agency, according to a social media post from the fire department. However, the department will continue to post updates.
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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