Three people died and 18 first responders were hospitalized after exposure to an unidentified toxic substance during an emergency intervention at a rural residence in Mountainair, New Mexico, authorities confirmed.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday morning after the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check at a home on Hanlon Avenue. Family members had alerted authorities after the residents failed to report to work, leading officials to suspect a possible overdose situation.
Emergency teams discovered four unresponsive individuals inside the house. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, while a fourth survivor was transferred to a hospital in Albuquerque for urgent medical treatment.
The situation quickly escalated into a hazardous materials emergency after several responding personnel began showing severe symptoms shortly after entering the residence. Officials reported that emergency workers experienced headaches, dizziness, coughing and vomiting both inside and around the property.
According to University of New Mexico Hospital officials, a total of 23 individuals were exposed to the unknown substance. 18 emergency personnel underwent decontamination and medical evaluation, while 3 people remained hospitalized under close observation.
Mountainair EMS Chief Josh Lewis, among the first to enter the residence, was kept overnight for monitoring. Authorities stated that most responders were later discharged after symptoms subsided.
Due to contamination concerns, released emergency workers were reportedly barred from retrieving personal belongings worn during the intervention, including glasses and jewelry.
Volunteer firefighter Antonette Alguire, who performed CPR on one victim outside the home, described the scene as chaotic as emergency crews themselves began falling ill. “EMTs and firefighters started coughing, vomiting and becoming dizzy,” she said.
Hazmat teams from Albuquerque Fire Rescue, alongside the New Mexico State Police and the FBI, have secured the area as investigations continue. Preliminary findings suggest the substance spreads mainly through direct contact rather than airborne exposure.
Authorities ruled out natural gas and carbon monoxide leaks, while laboratory tests remain underway to determine the exact nature of the toxic substance. Officials stressed that the contamination is limited to the residence and poses no wider public threat.
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