The smell of natural gas in U of T’s Graduate House residence has some students worried their accommodation will go up in smoke.
On three occasions this school year, students have complained of the smell of natural gas in the halls and courtyards of the residence, which was built in 2000.
“This is the third time that I know of since I moved here in the beginning of September,” said Anne Seiwarath, a Graduate House resident.
“This is a problem that continues to happen,” she added.
“At 8:30 on [last] Saturday morning there was a strong smell of gas,” Seiwarath said of the latest incident.
Another student said the building is sometimes permeated with the smell.
“I heard that if you’re on the sixth floor and you have your windows open, you can smell it,” said Brian Wilson.
“The building hasn’t been evacuated any of the times,” Wilson added. “I’m not happy at all.”
Some residents in the building believe that the gas leak is due to SpaHa, a restaurant on the main floor of the building beside the Harbord St. entrance. Some students had been told the restaurant did not turn off gas valves when it closed for the night.
They were told the problem had been fixed, until it recurred last Saturday.
A worker at SpaHa said the gas leak may have come from the restaurant’s stoves and ovens.
“All I know is that it has been fixed,” the worker said. He did not want to give his name.
“There’s a sign now that says ‘Turn off the gas,’” he added.
