Interagency Natural Resource Center Overcharged Diesel Truck Battery 2026

A recently transferred vehicle, a 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 with reoccurring battery issues, was left to charge inside a closed vehicle bay overnight. The following day, the Dispatch Center and CIO radio employees reported a strong “rotten egg” odor. This smell was so strong that the Dispatch Center Manager had employees leave the building and the CIO employees self-evacuated. Dispatch immediately began to implement their Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and relocated several dispatchers to the Pappy Boyington Airport, located approximately 15 minutes away.

The natural gas company and the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) contractor were contacted to assess any potential hazards and to investigate equipment faults. The natural gas company personnel on site were able to quickly determine that the source of the odor was hydrogen sulfide from the charging diesel truck battery in the engine bay.

All exterior and bay doors were opened to ventilate the hydrogen sulfide gas. A few of the warehouse bay doors were opened and allowed to air out for approximately one hour.