Hazmat Team Finds Drying Clothes Source of River Street Odor

Haverhill firefighters and a state hazmat team investigated an “unknown odor” Tuesday night coming from a home at 235 River St. (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News.)

The state Fire Marshal’s Hazardous Materials Response arrives at 235 River St., Haverhill. (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News.)

Odors coming from drying work clothes caused the Haverhill Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s Hazardous Materials Response team to converge on a River Street home Tuesday night.

Haverhill firefighters responded to 235 River St. sometime before 9 p.m., followed by a team from state Fire Marshall Peter J. Ostroskey’s office.

“There was an unknown odor in the basement,” Jennifer Mieth, spokesperson for the state Department of Fire Services, told WHAV. She said investigators determined the odor came from work clothes in a dryer.

Haverhill Fire Chief William F. Laliberty was away Wednesday morning and not available for comment.