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West Deer police issued an all-clear about 2:30 p.m. today after a mysterious cloud or haze was reported covering a large portion of the township.

"There’s no reason to panic or leave or hide in your house," township police Sgt. Darren Mikus said during an impromptu press conference at the township building on East Union Road.

A weather inversion might be responsible for the cloud sighted today over northern Allegheny and southern Butler counties, according to a release from the Butler County emergency services.

"At this point no confirmation of any type of chemical release is reported in the area," the release received at 2:15 p.m. said.

West Deer police received eight to 10 calls about 11:30 a.m. today about a "strong odor" in the Blanchard and Curtisville sections of the township, police said. Blanchard is in the northeastern part of the township near Fawn while Curtisville is in the north-central part of West Deer.

Mikus drove to where the cloud or haze was sighted immediately after the calls. "It was like a haze in the air, maybe 8 to 10 feet off the ground," Mikus said. "It almost looked like heat (rising)." The haze was barely visible, he said.

The haze lay over the township in 100-foot strips over a three- to four-mile wide area of the township. He said earlier reports that it was a cloud floating through the township were wrong.

The haze had a sweet, strong odor, he said. It did not smell like chlorine, he said.

An elderly woman in the Curtisville section complained of eye irritation after encountering the haze, but was not hospitalized, police said.

The haze lifted after about 30 minutes, Mikus said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, along with Allegheny County and township fire officials, tried to locate the source of the haze but were unable, police said.

The DEP was continuing this afternoon to try to locate the source, Mikus said.

Butler County Department of Emergency Services and 911 center received numerous calls concerning the sighting, a release said.

Allegheny County Hazmat team and several emergency services from southern Butler County were dispatched to the area, according to the release.

"Discussion with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh by Allegheny County authorities indicates the clouds may be the result of a weather inversion in the area," the release said.

Butler County wasn’t issuing any advisories or recommendations at the time, the release said.

Earlier, West Deer township manager Jason Dailey described the sighting as a sweet-smelling gray cloud spreading five to six miles across the township. The sighting prompted township and emergency officials to warn residents to stay indoors if possible at the time, Dailey said.

The cloud was stationary at the Butler County line at 1 p.m., Dailey said. Allegheny County hazardous materials team members and the township emergency management coordinator were trying to determine the content and source of the cloud, Dailey said.

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