Fire at Newport seafood plant contained; evacuation zone reduced and no injuries reported

Authorities in Newport ordered an evacuation after a fire broke out at a Pacific Seafood plant on Sunday morning. The blaze was reported around 8:51 a.m. at 213 SW Bay Blvd, prompting the city to open shelters and advise residents to stay indoors and wear masks to avoid smoke inhalation.

Oregon Rep. David Gomberg said hazmat teams were on site monitoring the air and had not detected any ammonia leaks, while Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy noted that the ammonia tanks inside the building remained stable and unpunctured. The primary concern shifted to smoke from the smoldering structure.

Firefighters confined the fire to the 11,000-square-foot facility, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department reduced the evacuation radius from a one-mile perimeter to the blocks between Bay Boulevard and 10th Street and between Canyon Way and Hatfield Drive. A shelter was established at Atonement Lutheran Church.

John Fuller, the city’s public information officer, reported that approximately 30 to 40 workers were present in the plant at the time of the fire and were safely evacuated, with no injuries among employees or firefighters. The Oregon Coast Aquarium closed for the day and announced an evacuation of its premises.

Mayor Jan Kaplan emphasized the plant’s importance to the local economy, while Pacific Seafoods vice president Ashton Meier expressed the company’s focus on supporting employees and cooperating with public safety officials to assess damage and hazards.

Fire investigator Nicole Brewer highlighted the health risks associated with ammonia and other chemicals used in such facilities, noting potential respiratory effects and environmental concerns from runoff.

Local resident Shelly Heim said she and her husband had not yet evacuated but were monitoring wind conditions to avoid smoke exposure.