Staff Report / May 23, 2026
Two correction officers were hospitalized Friday evening after a suspected fentanyl exposure incident at Auburn Correctional Facility, prompting a hazardous materials response and an ongoing investigation by prison and emergency officials.
According to the Auburn Fire Department, emergency crews were dispatched to the State Street prison shortly after 6 p.m. after Cayuga County 911 received reports that staff members were experiencing symptoms following exposure to an unknown substance inside the facility. Ambulance personnel initially responded to provide medical assistance before requesting the department’s Hazardous Materials Team.
Upon arriving at the prison, responders learned that a total of five correction officers may have been exposed. Firefighters entered the facility wearing hazardous materials protective gear and conducted testing on the suspected substance and surrounding areas. Preliminary field testing indicated the presence of fentanyl in multiple locations within the facility, according to fire officials.
Two officers were transported to Auburn Community Hospital for further evaluation and treatment, while three additional officers were assessed at the scene. Emergency crews remained at the prison for more than an hour carrying out testing, decontamination, and mitigation efforts before clearing the incident. The suspected materials were secured and turned over to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for further examination.
The incident is the latest in a series of contraband and exposure-related events reported at Auburn Correctional Facility in recent years. Prison officials and correction officer representatives have repeatedly expressed concerns about the growing presence of illicit substances entering correctional facilities through increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods. Authorities have not released details on how the suspected fentanyl entered the prison, and the investigation remains ongoing.
