Residents of Waycross are currently dealing with an unsettling gasoline-like odor that has prompted local and state authorities to investigate its origins while prioritizing the community’s safety.
WAYCROSS, Ga. — An unusual smell has left Waycross residents puzzled and concerned, as they endure an ongoing, pungent odor reminiscent of gasoline.
For several days, this strong smell has persisted in various areas of the city, causing discomfort and raising questions among the locals.
City officials have been actively collaborating with state agencies, working tirelessly to identify the source of the odor and ensure that the air quality in the area remains safe for residents.
First Coast News engaged with local residents at businesses and in neighborhoods, who reported that the gasoline-like scent is most noticeable during the early morning and late evening hours.
Waycross City Manager Ulysses Rayford assured the community that the city is fully committed to resolving the issue. “We’re doing everything in our power to find a solution and provide answers,” Rayford stated.
“It literally smelled like regular gas,” said Tia Johnson, Waycross resident.
“Maybe like a hint of gasoline,” added resident Miracle Brewton. “It’s just a strong smell you can even get past. I can barely handle the smell. It’s really strong.”
“It’s been in the air for about three days now,” said Jayden Howard, another Waycross resident. “You can smell it real strong.”
Many residents describe the odor as a smell of gasoline or chemical-like, sparking concern and confusion throughout the community.
“You get on social media, and everyone is saying what is that abnormal smell and it smells like gas,” said Johnson. “As it kept going on throughout the day, it kind of got worse and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on?’”
In response to the concerns, city officials say they are working around the clock to find the source.
“We’re still out in full force right now just trying to rule out everything, again, that we kind of been mentioning,” said Rayford.
Rayford said crews have tested the river, cleaned out sewers and lift stations, surveyed wastewater treatment plant and are considering several possible causes.
He also said the city is factoring in everything from illegal dumping and nearby construction to weather patterns.
“We do have people that dump in manholes illegally,” said Rayford. “When you do construction, sometimes that releases certain things in the air, gasses and stuff. The way the patterns are right now and the way the wind is pushing and the precipitation, all those things just, it could be that.”
Rayford further stated that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division was in town earlier in the week, and their initial testing found nothing concerning.
“I still feel bad because I just can’t say what it is,” Rayford said. “I don’t know what it is. I know everybody wants to know what it is and everybody has their great theories and all those, but until we get some facts, and I can say you know, truthfully, based on facts, I’m just gonna keep on trying to mitigate what we can.”
Rayford said the EPD is responding to similar odor-related issues in other communities and says the state will begin air quality testing in Waycross next week.
“It’s other cities going through something similar which is, I don’t know if it’s coincidental, it’s crazy, but they’re going through similar things,” said Rayford.
Despite the uncertainty, residents say city leaders are keeping them informed.
“Our city management did a good job of alerting everybody, saying we’re checking this, we’re checking that and alerting everybody,” said Johnson. “Calming the chaos because everybody was wondering what was going on.”
Others said they’re just ready for the smell to go away.
“It’s aggravating to come outside every day and it smells like that. I hope they fix it,” said Howard.
According to Rayford, crews will continue monitoring the situation over the weekend.
He’s asking residents to report any strong smells through the Waycross city app.
