09/15/2026
— If you've been in Collinsville during the evening lately and wondered whether somebody had set the town on fire, you're apparently not alone.
Several Collinsville District businesses have contacted Star News about a heavy smoky, burning odor that has been showing up in the evening—and we're told it isn't happening just once in a blue moon.
According to businesses and residents, the smell can appear at least twice a week, with some describing it as strong enough to make the area feel like it's sitting under a giant smoke cloud.
One resident put it this way:
“From a distance it appears to be fog but once you breathe in, you can almost taste the stench. It's a heavy smoke that burns your eyes and gets caught in your throat.”
That's not exactly the kind of evening atmosphere businesses are advertising.
Instead of smelling dinner coming out of the kitchen, customers may be wondering whether they're about to see a fire truck rolling down the street.
Businesses including Scuffle Hill, Livy's and El Ranchito have expressed concerns about what the recurring odor could mean for their customers and their businesses.
And here's where things get interesting.
One source has alleged that the burning may be coming from a residence in the 200 block of Ridgecrest Avenue. That claim has not been independently confirmed by Star News, and the source of the smoke has not been officially established.
For local businesses, however, the concern is very real.
A persistent smell of heavy smoke can make people uncomfortable, send customers elsewhere and potentially create the impression that something is burning nearby.
And nobody wants their restaurant's signature aroma to be competing with “Somebody Call the Fire Department.”
Collinsville District Supervisor Chris Lawless, affectionately known around the community as “Mr. Trash & Grass!”, says officials want to protect the businesses and residents of the district.
Lawless says the goal is to find a way to resolve the problem.
“We want to be here to protect our businesses and residents,” Lawless said.
That's the message from the district: find the source, figure out what's happening and get it resolved.
Collinsville has businesses investing in the community, and the last thing those businesses need is customers walking through the door smelling like they've just left a campfire.
For now, the mystery remains:
WHAT'S BURNING IN COLLINSVILLE?
Star News will continue watching the situation and looking for answers as concerns about the recurring evening smoke continue.
Because if Collinsville is going to have a fog machine, somebody forgot to tell the DJ.
