Three people are dead following a visit from first responders checking out a suspected drug overdose in rural New Mexico on Wednesday. More than a dozen first responders had to be quarantined after possible exposure to an unidentified substance, The Associated Press reports.
At a Mountainair home near Albuquerque, four people were found unresponsive and three later died; the fourth is being treated at a hospital in Albuquerque.
First responders decontaminated
When first responders arrived at the home, they were exposed to an unknown substance and began experiencing symptoms such as nausea and dizziness.
One volunteer firefighter, who performed CPR on a woman outside the home, Antonette Alguire, said she wonders if first responders will have to take more precautions in the future.
“It’s getting to that point where we just have to live in fear, even saving lives,” she told AP.
Alguire did not enter the home, but she watched as others went inside and began showing symptoms — an experience she described as scary.
Two first responders remain in serious condition, per Fox News.
What is the substance?
The substance is currently unidentified, but hazmat teams are focused on identifying the unknown substance involved, reports say.
Authorities believe there is no threat to the public, and the substance is thought to be spread through contact and is not airborne, but the exact cause is still under investigation, according to Fox News.
“At this time, we do not know the exact cause,” Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto said in Facebook post. “However, based on the information currently available, all indications are pointing toward narcotics as a possible factor. The investigation is still ongoing, and officials are working carefully to confirm the facts before releasing final conclusions.”
Mountainair Public Works said carbon monoxide or natural gas did not cause the incident, Fox News reports.