Three people died after suspected exposure to an unknown substance at a home in a town near Albuquerque, New Mexico. More than a dozen emergency officials who responded to the scene were hospitalized. Authorities have stated there is no threat to the public.

The incident sent a wave of concern through emergency response communities nationwide. First responders arrived on scene before realizing the nature of the exposure, leaving them vulnerable. Local officials scrambled to contain the situation while trying to identify the substance involved.

No details about the substance have been released. The shutdown of the area and hospitalization of responders could prompt tighter protocols for hazmat operations in the region, though officials maintain the risk remains contained.