Hamilton apartment evacuated after bear spray dispersed

Residents of a building in central Hamilton have evacuated after bear spray spread throughout the apartments.

Emergency crews responded to a call shortly after 1:30 p.m. about a substance coming from the stairwell into the hallways at 50 Cathcart St.

The Hamilton Fire Department’s hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team searched through six floors in an attempt to find the cause of the odour.

NEW | F23004023 | HAZMAT LEVEL 2 RESPONSE | Loc: 0 Block CATHCART ST HAM @ WILSON ST/KELLY ST /CN: 50 CATHCART | Units: A1,C73,C74,DC2,E11,E4,E8,H2,PC1,P1,S4 | 02/14/23 13:35

— HamOnt Fire Dept (@HFD_Incidents) February 14, 2023

Investigators later determined bear spray was released on one of the floors and it spread to upper floors.

“HFD contained the spray and are completing air monitoring before letting the residents back to their units,” said Assistant Deputy Chief Ryan Coburn.

A Hamilton Street Railway bus was called in to accommodate evacuees.

Coburn says no one was injured during this incident.

READ MORE: Witnesses hear ‘loud bangs’ before fire started at home in Hamilton