EL PASO, Texas -- Three East El Paso bars housed in one building won't be able to open for business. On Tuesday morning, it was business as usual for the strip of bars on Lee Trevino Drive. An employee called 911 when he smelled a strong gas odor. When units responded, fire officials determined the smell was gasoline and that someone had tried to set the place of fire.

"It concerns me. I'm glad nothing happened, it was only a false alarm," said Marcos Alcantar, the building owner.

Alcantar, whose building houses Cielo Cantina, La Revolucion Bar and Industry VIP Lounge, was called to the scene for an interview and information. Investigators want to know if any of these businesses had an unhappy patron.

"We're trying to get enough information. We have the Sheriff's Department helping us. Our concern is to try and catch the persons responsible," said Lt. Mario Hernandez with the El Paso Fire Marshal's Office.

Fire officials set up fans to remove gasoline vapors inside the building. So far it will be two days before these bars can open again. Alcantar said it won't affect business too much, but he wants the authorities to catch whoever did it and determine why they did it.

"I hope that law enforcement is paying attention to what's going on in Mexico and that it doesn't happen here," said Alcantar.

The Fire Marshal's Office also found several fire code violations. Those will have to be addressed before these bars open again.