A number of reports were made yesterday about a chemical and gas smell in the vicinity of the Maroondah Highway and Wilson Street.
Following investigations of the area, it was discovered the smell was coming from a premises where a dry cleaning business was totally destroyed by fire in July.
CFA Operations Officer Gavin Wright said the building is currently being demolished and the smell became stronger when the soil was disturbed.
“We believe the smell may be residue of dry cleaning chemicals that over the years have seeped into the soil,” he said.
“There is no danger to anyone in the town – we’re using air monitoring equipment which has found the levels of the odour to all be within safe limits.”
OO Wright said CFA and EPA were currently working out if the contaminated soil needed to be removed.
He said emergency services would remain on scene for at least the rest of the morning.
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