Ammonia Leak Threat Contained After Fire at Newport Seafood Plant
Firefighters contained a potential ammonia leak at Pacific Seafood's Newport, Oregon facility, and residents were advised to stay indoors while the blaze was extinguished.
A fire broke out at Pacific Seafood's processing plant in Newport, Oregon, shortly before 9 a.m. on Sunday, prompting a hazmat response due to the presence of anhydrous ammonia used for refrigeration. State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said the ammonia tank was located and showed no signs of puncture or leakage, and specialized equipment was deployed to monitor air quality and model potential impacts.
City spokesperson John Fuller advised residents to remain inside and wear masks if they needed to go outside, noting that evacuation orders for the one-mile radius around the plant were scaled back to recommendations. A shelter was initially set up at an elementary school but later moved to a Lutheran church as a precaution.
Pacific Seafood reported no injuries and confirmed that all employees had been accounted for. Vice president Ashton Meier expressed that the company was "devastated" by the fire and anticipated significant losses while cooperating with emergency officials to assess damage.
Local authorities closed US 20 between Harney Street West and US 101, and fire crews continued to fight the blaze into the afternoon. The cause of the fire and any ammonia contamination remain under investigation. No injuries have been reported.