BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – An investigation of a suspicious odor at a Bellingham apartment building sent two firefighters to the hospital and triggered a shelter-in-place order.

Bellingham Fire Captain Dustin Michaelis tells My Bellingham Now that their department received calls about a chemical odor at the Lincoln Square Apartments a little before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

Crews were dispatched to the York neighborhood building to investigate the smell on the fourth floor of the building.

Two firefighters that went to the suspected source of the smell had to turn back after inhaling the fumes and were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s for a checkup.

A shelter-in-place order for the building was issued as more units arrived at the scene, including a Hazmat unit. Michaelis notes the units on scene ventilated the floor for the rest of the afternoon.

As crews were on scene, officials learned that a tenant experiencing a behavioral health issue was spraying bear spray inside the building.

Michaelis says that this person was likely spraying on the fourth floor for some hours before crews arrived, leading to the odor in the building.

Bellingham Police (BPD) Lt. Andria Fountain adds that the smell could be attributed to someone else burning charcoal in their apartment.

BPD officers also arrested someone in the building on outstanding warrants for suspected drug dealing.