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Alameda officials say hazardous material identified as bear spray
Fire officials investigating a hazardous materials incident in Alameda that sent two people to a local hospital said it was caused by bear spray that had been deployed.
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Fire officials investigating a hazardous materials incident at an Alameda apartment complex on Monday that sent an adult and a child to a local hospital later determined the substance was bear spray.
Around 2 p.m., police and fire crews responded to a four-story apartment complex in the 700 block of Santa Clara Avenue, where they worked to identify a potentially hazardous substance.
Authorities evacuated the apartment building and several adjoining buildings in the area while crews investigated.
Child and adult injured
What we know:
An adult and a child were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland. Other people suffered injuries after inhaling the substance but were not hospitalized, authorities said.
Fire officials later determined the substance was bear spray.
Investigation
Dig deeper:
The building manager believes the incident may be linked to a former tenant who trespassed on the property. The tenant had previously been asked to leave the building due to several concerns, including alleged drug use.
Alameda Fire Public Information Officer Kevin Tidwell said a person of interest has been identified.
"The person of interest went into the building and sprayed bear spray. The Alameda Police Department is currently conducting an investigation," Tidwell said.
Authorities did not release additional information about the person of interest.
Residents were later allowed to return to the evacuated complex and nearby buildings.
The Source: Alameda Fire Department and Police Department