Mystery Odor Sickens People, Breaks Windows, Collapses Roof

A strong, odorous fume that sent people home sick from a restaurant and blew out the windows and collapsed the roof of a vacant building has local officials puzzled.

“We don’t know exactly what it was,” Mayor Louis Christensen said. “We’re still checking to see if we can find out where it came from.”

Employees at O’Rourke’s Restaurant first noticed the strange smell Saturday, Christensen said. Those who smelled the odor said it burned their eyes, throat and noses, he said.

When it was determined that the smell was coming from the sewer system and posed a possible fire or explosive hazard, Public Works Superintendent Dale Weeks and fire department officials were called.

While they were discussing what to do at the restaurant, the windows blew out of a vacant building across the street and a portion of the roof caved in, possibly from pressure buildup from fumes.