First responders were exposed to fentanyl and sickened after arriving at a rural New Mexico home earlier this week to investigate a possible overdose that left three people dead, officials said Friday.
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They found four people unconscious at the home in Mountainair, east of Albuquerque, and two of them were declared dead at the scene, officials said.
A third died shortly after arriving at the University of New Mexico Hospital, officials said Friday. The fourth survived.
Both the survivor and one of the deceased had been administered the overdose medication Narcan.
More than a dozen first responders were quarantined after exposure to an unknown substance, with some reporting nausea and dizziness, officials said.
“Preliminary findings indicate this incident is tied to the exposure to a powdered opioid substance within the home, and on-scene DEA laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine and para-fluorofentanyl, also called P4 fentanyl. It’s a more illicit form or version of fentanyl,” New Mexico State Police Chief Matt Broom told reporters Friday.
The fentanyl was in powder form, police said.
In total, 25 people were exposed to the drugs, including the three who died, officials said. Two people, one of them a first responder, remained in the hospital Friday, authorities said.
Micah Rascon, 51, and Georgia Rascon, 49, were among those who died.
One of the victims did not show up for work, prompting the employer to send a co-worker to the house in Mountainair on Wednesday, officials said. That colleague then called authorities after discovering the possible overdose.
“These men and women responded to a dangerous situation while working to protect lives and secure the scene,” Broom said. “We especially recognize the first responders who became sick while carrying out their duties.”
The first responders to arrive were not wearing any hazmat protection, but Torrance County Fire Chief Gary Smith said there were no initial reasons to believe there could be dangerous exposure.
While authorities won’t “armchair quarterback” Wednesday’s actions, Smith said his team will analyze the response.
“I mean, we’re only as good as our last call, right?” Smith said. “There’ll be multiple debriefings that we’re going to be doing over the next week or two to find out where our strengths were and where our weaknesses were.”
The investigation is continuing, but there was no immediate sign that the drugs were manufactured at this home, officials said.
Five dogs from the home were also placed in quarantine at Mountainair Animal Control.
