National Grid investigating reports of gas emergency

National Grid is investigating an overwhelming gas odor that residents are reporting in the President Streets.

National Grid spokeswoman Wendy Ladd said that the utility began receiving calls for a gas emergency at 4:15 p.m., adding that crews were heading to the area to investigate.

“As far as we know the system is fine, but we are going to go and investigate it,” she said.

One resident in the Canals who declined to be identified said that the odor was ongoing for a few days and was reported as far as Lido Beach, and that two members of his family vomited from the overwhelming stench.

Long Beach Fire Chief Antonio Cuevas, however, said that the odor was not caused by a gas leak, and was methane gas emanating from a sewer lift station that is undergoing maintenance at Roosevelt Boulevard and Park Avenue. He said that the Fire Department notified National Grid.

“Once we had our units on scene…they checked it out,” Cuevas said, adding that this is the third time in a week that they’ve had to investigate reports of a natural gas smell. “Whenever they work in that area…natural gas and methane gas smell similar. Our units went down and determined that’s what it was. It’s harmless. If you don’t deal with it on a day-to-day basis, you don’t know what it smells like. As quick as it comes, it dissipates.”

Cuevas said that National Grid conducts its own investigation.

“We will also have National Grid continue to check the area,” he said, adding that the utility takes its own tests and samples.