SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — People across San Diego are reporting a bad smell Tuesday morning, and the cause of it is still unknown.
Reports are circulating on social media and multiple calls to police came in early Tuesday morning of a burning or chemical smell in several areas across San Diego. Some employees at FOX 5/KUSI even reported smelling the odor before coming into work Tuesday morning.
But San Diego Fire-Rescue Spokesperson Mónica Muñoz told FOX 5/KUSI they have not found an active fire or any hazards that would have caused the smell at this time. They are investigating after receiving at least eight odor investigation calls between 6:49 a.m. and 8:19 a.m.
Reports of the odor have been widespread, with reports coming in from Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, Otay Mesa, La Mesa, North Park, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Mission Valley, Mission Beach, Kearny Mesa, Serra Mesa, Tierrasanta, University Heights, San Carlos, Alpine, Santee, and downtown, even as far north as Poway and Escondido and as far east as Jamul.
The air quality in San Diego as of 11 a.m. Tuesday was moderate at 69 AQI, according to airnow.gov. Coronado on the Silver Strand had an AQI of 108, which is an unhealthy air quality for sensitive people. The air quality was a bit worse in Tijuana at 116 AQI, and Zona Rio, Baja California, at 152 AQI.
The air quality could play a factor in determining where the smell originated as the investigation into the cause continues, which rose above the green (healthy) levels Tuesday for just the second time all month.
Keep an eye on the air quality where you live with the real-time Airnow.gov AQI widget below:
Did you smell it? Let FOX 5/KUSI know what part of San Diego you’re in.