Officials investigate widespread natural gas odor across Harris County

A natural gas odor reported from Pasadena to Tomball sent Harris County officials and utility crews scrambling Thursday, with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office saying it received several reports but could not find a source.

The reports reached across north Harris County and into communities including Channelview, Spring, Cypress, Kingwood and Tomball, according to Harris County Precinct 4 officials. One report said the smell could be detected along the I-45 corridor into northwest and northeast Harris County, adding to concern that the odor was not limited to a single neighborhood.

Lone Star College - Houston North Fallbrook evacuated shortly before 2 p.m. after a gas smell was reported at the north Harris County campus. The college later gave the all-clear less than 15 minutes to less than 30 minutes after the evacuation, depending on the report, as responders checked the area and worked to determine whether any danger remained.

CenterPoint Energy said it was investigating suspected leak calls tied to the odor and told anyone who smells natural gas to leave immediately on foot and report it to 911 and CenterPoint. The utility also said the odor reported near Channelview was not connected to any confirmed damage or major issues in its natural gas system.

Officials had not identified the exact source of the odor by the latest reports, leaving emergency agencies to continue checking scattered complaints across Harris County, Texas. The pattern of reports, from Pasadena to Tomball and along the I-45 corridor, showed why even a faint gas smell can trigger a fast response.

A natural gas odor can signal a leak that may pose a fire or explosion risk, which is why responders moved quickly to investigate the campus evacuation and the broader cluster of complaints. The current focus remains on locating the source and making sure residents who smell gas leave the area first and call for help right away.