Fumes determined to be tear gas, authorities say

CHAUNCEY, Ohio (AP) -- Tear gas caused mysterious fumes last week that forced hundreds of residents to leave their homes in the southeast Ohio village, authorities said Thursday.
The source of the gas remains a mystery. A woman reported seeing a cloud of white smoke rising from a vacant lot before people started complaining about burning eyes and throats Saturday from a strong chemical odor in the air.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification analyzed samples of grass and residue from the lot to identify tear gas as the cause, Logan Fire Chief Brian Robertson said.
Fire crews found a burnt patch on the ground in the vacant lot, but there was no canister or other container for tear gas, said Dan Brown, chief of the Chauncey-Dover Volunteer Fire Department.
At least a dozen people received medical treatment, including two Chauncey firefighters who were among the first to arrive on the scene and were overcome by the fumes, Brown said.
Residents were allowed to return home several hours after the evacuations.
The investigation has been turned over to the Athens County Sheriff's Department. Sgt. Allen Flickinger, the sheriff's chief detective, would not comment.
Chauncey is about 60 miles southeast of Columbus.