HazMat team called to Middleboro home, substance determined to be fentanyl

Feb 28, 2023

MIDDLEBORO — A state hazardous materials team was called to an Everett Street home Monday after members of the fire department found a suspicious powder that was determined to be fentanyl, Fire Chief Owen Thompson said.

The department was called to a medical emergency at the location when department members located “unknown powder’’ in a bedroom and became concerned, the chief said. 

The state hazardous materials team “collected, investigated and destroyed’’ the fentanyl, Thompson said. The substance was not weighed, but the amount was very small, the chief said, and no charges were filed, Thompson said.

The patient was transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham. The patient’s condition was unknown but Thompson said the patient was “awake and alert’’ upon arrival.

Fentanyl can be potentially fatal even in small doses, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Thompson said the incident serves as a reminder that drugs can affect any community. “People say this can’t happen in our town, but it does,’’ he said. “This is confirmation that it’s here.’’