sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Preliminary findings suggest multiple powdered opioids may have contributed to the deaths of three people Wednesday and the hospitalization of more than a dozen first responders, although other details of the Mountainair incident remain unclear.

Officials on Friday announced that 51-year-old Mika Rascon and 49-year-old Georgia Rascon were found dead Wednesday morning. They were discovered at a home in the 300 block of North Hanlon Avenue in the town 90 miles southeast of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 after exposure to fentanyl, methamphetamine and para-fluorofentanyl, also known as P4 fentanyl.

The identity of the third person, who died at the University of New Mexico Hospital, will not be released until the Office of the Medical Investigator confirms it. The cause of death remains under investigation.

A total of 25 people, including 18 first responders, were exposed to the mix of powdered opioids. Patients reported symptoms including vomiting, nausea and dizziness.

As of Friday, all Mountainair EMS staff members were home and in stable condition. A fourth person found inside the home when paramedics responded remained hospitalized, along with one first responder.

It remains unclear how the first responders were exposed to the drugs.

Fentanyl appears to be primarily responsible for the illnesses and deaths, said Steve McLaughlin, chief medical officer at UNMH.

鈥淚 do want to take just a minute to talk a little bit about fentanyl as the agent that appears to be most responsible for this event,鈥� McLaughlin said. 鈥淔entanyl is particularly dangerous because it requires only a tiny amount to cause an overdose. The tiniest possible dose of fentanyl can cause serious symptoms in an exposed individual.鈥�

New Mexico State Police spokesman Wilson Silver said preliminary evidence did not indicate that 鈥渢rue manufacturing鈥� of drugs was taking place at the home.

No one has been charged in the case, authorities said Friday, though charges could be filed later. Federal and local authorities are working together to determine next steps.

The Mountainair Police Department was first notified after receiving reports that a person had not arrived at work that morning. After the employer called and received no answer, another employee went to the home and discovered four people who appeared to be overdosing.

Officers were dispatched around 7:45 a.m. after learning that a person inside the home was unconscious but breathing, said Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto.

Emergency workers entered the home without protective gear because there was no indication of a hazmat situation, said Torrance County Fire Chief Gary Smith.

鈥淚nitially, responding personnel were advised to use caution because of the possibility of a gas-related incident while the residence was being evaluated,鈥� Nieto said. 鈥淎ll personnel evacuated the residence with the two patients and began patient care outside the structure as a precautionary measure.鈥�

A Mountainair Public Works employee shut off the gas supply to the home and conducted an initial inspection around 8 a.m. to determine whether there was a gas leak, Nieto said.

鈥淣o gas leaks were detected and the property鈥檚 meter had been read the day before,鈥� he said. 鈥淢eter readings indicated very minimal gas usage. Based on both tests returning negative for leaks and the minimal meter usage, natural gas was ruled out as a cause of the incident.鈥�

Just before noon, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Fire Rescue assisted with the hazmat situation and the decontamination of the Rascons, who died at the home, AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo said.

AFR collected samples and found two substances 鈥� nortriptyline and aminophenyl sulfate 鈥� inside the home, though it remains unclear whether either substance was connected to the deaths. Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, and aminophenyl sulfate is commonly found in cosmetic products and hair dye.

鈥淭hat's just the substance that we found in testing, so those are all things that will be under investigation and will come out with autopsies and the investigation,鈥� Jaramillo said.

Officials said the situation underscores the dangers of the fentanyl epidemic nationwide and in New Mexico.

鈥淭his tragedy also highlights the dangers associated with illicit narcotics, especially fentanyl, and the horrible impact it has caused in communities across our state,鈥� New Mexico State Police Chief Matt Broom said during a news conference.

鈥淲e, as a community, must do anything and everything to address this epidemic. We owe it to our fellow New Mexicans.鈥�

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.