An unknown substance emitted a strong odor that raised exposure concerns in Highgrove Wednesday, prompting evacuations of businesses and a hazardous materials investigation.
The noxious fumes were reported about 11:40 a.m. in the 400 block of La Cadena Drive, just off of Interstate 215, according to the Riverside County Fire Department, which reported that workers at a store felt nauseated by the fumes and called 911.
Crews reached the location within a few minutes and also detected the malodor but could not isolate its origin. A fire captain ordered precautionary evacuations of multiple businesses, and sheriff’s deputies shut down the entire block to traffic, according to reports from the scene.
No one was hospitalized for exposure-related illness as of 12:45 p.m.
A hazmat unit was summoned to track down the source of the fumes, as well as personnel from the county Department of Environmental Health.