CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Imperial Oil is refusing to assist a Calgary, Alberta, couple ordered out of their house near an old refinery because of oil fumes, city media reported.
The Calgary Health Region ordered Marlies and Peter Held out this week as the house was permeated with a heavy smell of hydrocarbons, the Calgary Herald reported Wednesday.
Neighbor Tim Mather took the couple in, and told the newspaper Imperial should at least be paying for a hotel for them, as it operated the defunct facility.
In 2001, high levels of lead and hydrocarbons were found in the community's soil. About 140 residents accepted buy-outs from Imperial and the houses were demolished.
The Helds and Mather live in two of the few remaining houses.
Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rolheiser said the company believes the smell in the Held's house is sewer-related, and not hydrocarbons.
"Until the source has been determined to be other than what we believe it is, our position remains that the evacuation order is not related to our former refinery operations," Rolheiser said.
