Officials say no ammonia threat after fire at Oregon seafood plant

Officials confirmed Sunday afternoon that there is no threat of ammonia contamination following a fire at Pacific Seafood's processing plant in Newport, Oregon. The blaze broke out just before 9 a.m. in the Bayfront neighborhood, prompting a level-3 evacuation for residents within a one-mile radius as a precaution against a possible leak.

Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy said trace amounts of ammonia were initially detected, but the tanks were found intact and not leaking. "Between all the firefighters and our regional hazmat team, they did an excellent job of protecting those tanks and keeping them, you know, from something worse happening," Murphy said. He added that the primary environmental concern remaining is smoke from the ongoing fire.

City spokesperson John Fuller reported that no injuries have been reported and that about 30 to 40 people were in or near the facility at the time. One firefighter received treatment for exhaustion. A shelter was opened at Atonement Lutheran Church for displaced residents, and the city advised people to stay indoors and wear masks if outdoors.

Pacific Seafood vice president Ashton Meier expressed that the company is "devastated" by the incident and grateful for emergency responders, noting that all employees on site are safe. The company plans to cooperate with authorities to investigate the fire's cause.

Mayor Jan Kaplan highlighted Pacific Seafood as a significant employer for Newport, and state fire officials confirmed that the ammonia tanks are stable and pose no ongoing risk.