Dozens Sickened by Bear Repellent at NJ Amazon Warehouse

ROBBINSVILLE — Fire and rescue crews responded to report of fumes that hospitalized dozens a Central Jersey Amazon fulfillment center on Wednesday morning.

Eighty people were evacuated from the 3rd floor near the south entrance of the  warehouse on New Canton Way off Route 539 in Robbinsville just before 9 a.m. after an accidental release of bear repellent, according to township spokesman John Nalbone.

The area of the release was isolated and operations continued normal in the rest of the facility.

Robbinsville Fire and EMS crews set up a triage outside to care for affected workers.

About 20 people were hospitalized by the fumes, Nalbone said.

Amazon sells several types of bear repellent on its website. It typically contains high doses of pepper spray and is used to ward off aggressive or charging bears.

The Robbinsville fulfillment center operates 24 hours a day and during the Christmas holiday season employs over 4,000 workers.

A spokeswoman for Amazon has not yet returned a message.