More than 50 overcome at Dumont church, triage units set up

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: More than 50 parishioners of a Dumont church were taken to area hospitals or treated in mobile casualty units after they reported chest pains and other respiratory problems.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

04/21/2013 4:53 a.m.

CVP EXCLUSIVE: Authorities suspect that pepper spray was released during a party last night at a gym attached to a Dumont church, drawing a mass casualty response by a host of local and county emergency agencies, CLIFFVIEW PILOT has learned. READ MORE….

Hazardous materials teams from Bergen County, New Milford and Paramus joined mass casualty units from Englewood and Ridgewood after the call came in from the Living Word Community Church on East Madison Avenue around 10 p.m.

The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management also was on scene late tonight, as those overcome were treated or taken to area hospitals.

“We still don’t know” what caused the trouble, an emergency official told CLIFFVIEW PILOT just before 11:30 p.m.

Dumont firefighters were also joined by Teaneck Box 54.

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