Multiple staff members and a resident at an Auburn nursing home were taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon following a reported exposure to an unknown substance that prompted a mass casualty response.
According to the Auburn Fire Department, Cayuga County 911 dispatched Engine Company 3 and the duty chief to the Auburn Nursing Home at 85 Thornton Avenue around 2:24 p.m. for reports of multiple staff members exposed to an unknown substance.
While crews were responding, firefighters were advised that several staff members had become unconscious. Engine Company 3 arrived on scene within minutes and initiated hazardous materials response protocols. Additional fire and rescue units, including Rescue 1 and Engine Company 2, were dispatched to assist with patient care and operations.
Emergency personnel immediately evacuated residents and staff from the affected wing of the facility. Officials said the incident was upgraded to a Mass Casualty Incident due to the number of people requiring evaluation and the resources needed to safely manage the scene.
Mutual aid ambulance crews from several agencies assisted with patient transport and emergency medical operations. Ambulances from Auburn City Ambulance, SAVES, Southern Cayuga, Throop Fire Department, and Jordan transported patients to Auburn Community Hospital. Marcellus Ambulance and Fleming Ambulance provided standby coverage in the city during the incident.
Officials said one resident and six staff members were transported by ambulance to Auburn Community Hospital for further evaluation. Another staff member went to the hospital by personal vehicle, while one resident declined treatment at the scene. Their conditions were not released.
The Cayuga County Health Department and New York State Department of Health were notified and consulted during the response. Auburn Police and the Cayuga County Emergency Management Office also assisted at the scene.
Firefighters remained at the facility until about 5 p.m. monitoring air quality, assisting with facility operations, and supporting the ongoing investigation. Officials said no information has been released regarding the source of the exposure.
