The presence of bear spray led to evacuations and multiple injuries in a neighborhood in Alameda on Monday afternoon after authorities and hazmat experts responded to a call at an apartment building.

The Alameda Fire Department responded to the 700 block of Santa Clara Avenue at about 2 p.m. on a report of potentially hazardous materials. Streets were closed down between Webster and Page streets while authorities investigated. Residents in the immediate area were evacuated, as well.

As the hazmat crew investigated, multiple people were treated for injuries and two people were transported to the hospital with inhalation symptoms, the Fire Department said.

Hazmat experts with the city of Alameda Fire Department and the county fire department eventually identified the substance as bear spray. The substance was neutralized and residents were able to return home, the city Fire Department said at 6:30 p.m.

A full investigation is underway by the Alameda Police Department.

URL FOR AUTOMATED BCN RSS:

https://www.baycitynews.com/images/2026/BCN-20260316-ALAMEDAHAZMAT-01.jpg

PLEASE GO TO baycitynews.photoshelter.com/index TO ACCESS THE FOLLOWING FILE(S):

BCN-20260316-ALAMEDAHAZMAT-01.jpg

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.