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.
Subscribe to read this story ad-free
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
Four people were found unconscious at a home in Mountainair, east of Albuquerque, and two were declared dead at the scene on Wednesday, officials said.
A third died en route to the University of New Mexico Hospital, officials said. 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 following the call 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.
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 on Friday, authorities said.
Two of the three people who died were identified as Micah Rascon, 51, and Georgia Rascon, 49.
One of the victims did not show up for work, prompting the employer to see a co-worker to that house in Mountainair, 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 firefighters to arrive at the scene were not wearing any hazmat protection, but Torrance County Fire Chief Gary Smith said there was no initial reasons to believe there could be dangerous exposure.
While authorities won’t “arm chair 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.”
Five dogs from the home were also placed in quarantine at Mountainair Animal Control.
