Canadian Hazmat team say skunk probably to blame for unpleasant smell at apartment building

The Ottawa Fire Services Hazmat team says a skunk is most likely responsible for a foul odour that caused a number of residents to feel nauseous at an apartment building on Wednesday.

Eleven people were assessed by paramedics following the midmorning call. First responders to the scene detected “a very strong odour of skunk” outside the three-storey commercial-residential structure. Hazmat readings were negative both at the apartment building and at the building next door.



“Seems it was the skunk odour that was the culprit,” a fire service spokesperson said. Paramedics spokesperson JP Trottier says the people the assessed at the scene were reporting mild respiratory irritation, nausea, and headaches because of the odour.

"If you've been doused with one, you will certainly find out that it's meant to ward you away and it certainly does that," he said. "It can be irritating a little bit." He says no one needed to be treated in hospital, and everyone was fine after getting some fresh air. Ottawa Fire says the skunk has since left the building.