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What firefighters thought was sinkhole near downtown Orlando might be abandoned well

ORLANDO, Fla. — What firefighters on Thursday evening originally described as a sinkhole near downtown Orlando might actually be an abandoned well, the Orlando Fire Department said.

The hole was discovered shortly after 7 p.m. near a home along Lake Arnold on South Crystal Lake Drive south of State Road 408, firefighters said.

Firefighters said the hole is 3 feet by 5 feet wide, but its depth is unknown.

"We've tested it for hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, CO, oxygen levels," Orlando fire Lt. Derek Aagaard told Channel 9 earlier Thursday. "We find nothing hazardous. We believe at this time that it is possibly a sinkhole, and we're going to go forward with that assumption."

Officials said they evacuated residents from the home.

No other details were given.