A Texas high school cafeteria evacuated after two teens got into an altercation and unleashed pepper spray.

Rowlett High School's cafeteria shut down around noon Tuesday after students standing nearby the disputing girls fell ill from the spray.

The Rowlett Police Department announced details of the incident yesterday afternoon on its official Facebook page.

'On 9/19/17 at approximately 11.55am, two female students were involved in an altercation during lunch and one used pepper spray on the other. This resulted in several students experiencing the effects of pepper spray,' the statement said.

Lunch was shut down at Rowlett High School on Tuesday after several students were exposed to pepper spray, police said

Before noon, two girls at the school got into an altercation and one sprayed the other

'Rowlett PD and FD responded and treated several students. Lunch was shutdown until the area was deemed safe and students had been treated. No students were transported to the hospital and the school has resumed it's schedule for the day.'

According to a Dallas News report, Rowlett experienced a similar incident with two 16-year-old boys who got into a fight which turned physical during one of the high school's pep rallies back in 1996 and police had to deploy pepper spray to control the crowd.

'The spray blew through the crowd of more than 500 causing some students to cough, wheeze and vomit,' the Dallas News report read.

Students nearby were treated for exposure to the spray, and lunch was shut down until officials determined the area was safe. No students were hospitalized

According to Medical News Today, pepper spray causes burning to the throat, 'wheezing, dry cough, shortness of breath, gagging, gasping and the inability to breathe or speak'

While the officer's use of pepper spray stirred up controversy with some, school officials defended his choice to use it — saying they were unable to put a halt to the fight in a more appropriate manner.

'Two assistant principals and the officer attempted to break up the fight. The officer pulled out the pepper spray after he was knocked to the ground.'

According to Medical News Today, pepper spray causes burning to the throat, 'wheezing, dry cough, shortness of breath, gagging, gasping and the inability to breathe or speak,' for some.

'In rare cases, it can cause cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin that indicates a lack of blood flow and oxygen. Apnea and respiratory arrest are possible.

'Studies have found that people who breathe in pepper spray may experience acute hypertension, or high blood pressure. This increases the risk of stroke or heart attack.'