Wiesbaden firefighters called four times in one day over durian smell

Firefighters in Wiesbaden were called out to investigate a supposed gas leak four times in one day. The smell was eventually traced to a durian fruit stand.

Wiesbaden firefighters trace “gas leak” to pungent durian fruit

Last weekend, the fire brigade in Wiesbaden, Hesse, was called out four times to investigate a “gas leak” smell. Firefighters eventually traced the gas-like smell to a supermarket in a shopping centre that was selling durian fruit.

With an appearance similar to a giant, unpeeled conker, the durian is native to Borneo and known for its pungent smell. With fruit's unique scent possessing the power to linger for days, it is banned from some hotels and public transport services in Southeast Asia.

In Wiesbaden, firefighters arrived at the shopping centre and conducted tests but found no evidence of a gas leak, and eventually discovered that the building had no gas connection in the first place. 

Ventilation system was amplifying durian smell

Apparently, shoppers and employees were not happy with the fire brigade's conclusion, and the emergency services were called back to the shopping centre twice more to investigate the persistent smell.

On their third visit, firefighters discovered a nearby supermarket selling the famously pungent fruit and found that the shopping centre's ventilation system was picking the smell up from outside and distributing it throughout the centre.

Finally, at 10.40pm that night, firefighters were called out to another suspected gas leak at a block of flats. Instead, they discovered that one of the residents had bought a durian from the same supermarket that day, and the smell was spreading through the stairway and surroundings.