Apartment Residents Report Strong Odor, Fire Rescue Responds

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Watertown Fire Rescue successfully managed an incident at a local apartment building on the evening of November 14 after residents reported a strong odor, initially feared to be a gas leak.

Fire crews were dispatched at approximately 8:40 p.m. Engine 4, Medic 3, and Battalion 1 arrived on the scene. Firefighters used multiple gas detection meters to investigate the report of a potential gas leak. All readings from the meters showed no hazardous gases, confirming the air quality is safe for residents.

While confirming the air quality, firefighters worked to trace the source of the strong odor. The smell was eventually tracked to the building’s elevator area. A resident noted that the elevator had stopped functioning earlier in the evening.

Crews located the elevator machine room and observed heat and light smoke emanating from inside. Upon accessing the room, firefighters determined the cause of the odor and smoke: the elevator’s hydraulic system had severely overheated.

Firefighters immediately shut off power to the elevator and tagged out the pump's electrical supply to prevent further overheating. They then ventilated the room to dissipate the smoke and heat, monitoring the situation until the temperature was confirmed to be dropping. No fire was present, and there were no occupants inside the elevator car.

The building remained safe for residents, and no evacuations were necessary. No injuries were reported during the incident.

The elevator was marked out of service. Building management was advised to contact a licensed elevator technician for the necessary repairs.

Watertown Fire Rescue cleared the scene after confirming there was no gas leak and that the situation was fully stabilized, ensuring the continued safety of the apartment building's residents.