Oregon Seafood Plant Fire Triggers Ammonia Evacuation Warnings

A major fire at Pacific Seafood's processing facility in Newport, Oregon, prompted evacuation warnings across the city's Bayfront neighborhood on Sunday, October 25, as authorities investigated potential ammonia contamination from the burning building. Emergency crews worked to extinguish the blaze, assess air quality and protect nearby residents, while officials reduced parts of the evacuation zone after determining that the risk of an ammonia leak had been mitigated.

The fire was reported shortly before 9 a.m. at 213 Southwest Bay Boulevard, according to KPTV, while the Lincoln County Oregon Emergency Management Office said authorities responded shortly before 11 a.m. local time. Thick smoke spread across the coastal community, prompting officials to advise people to remain indoors and wear masks if they needed to go outside.

Newport initially issued Level 3 evacuation instructions for people within a one-mile radius of the facility because of possible ammonia contamination. The designation meant residents faced extreme danger and should leave immediately. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office later announced that some areas had been downgraded to Level 2, instructing residents to prepare to leave if conditions deteriorated.

John Fuller, a Newport city spokesperson, said hundreds of people were within the broader recommended evacuation area. He told CNN that approximately 30 to 40 people were in or near the facility when the incident occurred, while the Bayfront typically attracts substantially more visitors during the summer tourist season.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal deployed a hazardous materials team to investigate potential chemical exposure. According to CNN, Fuller said officials had detected low traces of ammonia in smoke from the ongoing fire, while ammonia tanks inside the building remained a concern.

However, the state fire marshal said an ammonia tank had been located and did not appear to be punctured or leaking, NBC News reported. By approximately 3:30 p.m., authorities said crews had mitigated the risk of a tank leaking ammonia and narrowed the evacuation area to a few blocks because of smoke, according to KPTV.

Officials continued to monitor conditions as firefighters worked to control the blaze. The fire's cause remained under investigation, and authorities had not reported any civilian injuries as of the updates published Sunday.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital for exhaustion, according to KPTV. Pacific Seafood said it was unaware of any employee injuries and had accounted for all its team members.

The company also said it was cooperating with emergency responders while the situation remained active. In a statement reported by NBC News, a company spokesperson said, "We are incredibly grateful for and actively working with first responders to make sure everything is handled with the necessary caution and care," and added, "We will work closely with appropriate authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident once the immediate response is complete."

The city initially established an evacuation shelter at Sam Case Elementary School before relocating it to Atonement Lutheran Church, north of the affected area. KPTV reported that the church, at 2315 North Coast Highway in Newport, welcomed evacuees with pets.

Highway 20 was closed between West Harney Street and U.S. Highway 101, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital remained open, while the Newport Aquarium announced it would close for the remainder of Sunday.

Ammonia exposure can irritate or burn the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that exposure to very high concentrations can cause severe lung damage or death, making air-quality monitoring a priority while emergency crews addressed the fire.