Fire destroys part of Pacific Seafood plant in Newport, Oregon, prompting evacuations over ammonia concerns

A fire broke out Sunday morning at a Pacific Seafood processing plant on the Yaquina Bay waterfront in Newport, Oregon, forcing evacuations over concerns that ammonia used to cool the facility could escape into the air.

City officials began receiving calls about the fire at about 8:51 a.m. at the plant at 213 SW Bay Blvd., OPB reported. KPTV, in a Gray News report carried by Live 5 News and other stations, said the blaze started in a freezer building on Newport's historic Bayfront.

Between 30 and 40 workers were inside when the fire started, and all got out safely, according to city spokesperson John Fuller. Reports differ on whether anyone was hurt. OPB said Fuller reported no injuries among workers or firefighters. KPTV reported that one firefighter was taken to a hospital and treated for exhaustion, and that no civilian injuries had been reported.

The city first ordered people within one mile of the plant to leave. Later in the day, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reduced the zone to a few blocks near the plant, OPB reported. KPTV said officials narrowed the area after crews reduced the risk of an ammonia tank leaking, leaving smoke as the main reason for the remaining order. Residents nearby were told to stay inside and to wear masks outdoors. A shelter was opened at Atonement Lutheran Church.

State Rep. David Gomberg told OPB that state hazardous materials teams had found no ammonia leaks but were watching for a possible structural collapse affecting a tank. Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy said the ammonia tanks were stable and intact. He described access as the main difficulty, saying, "The interior of the building wasn't safe for our crews to go inside."

OPB reported that firefighters kept the fire within the 11,000-square-foot building and it did not spread. The cause has not been determined. Officials said an investigation will begin once the fire is out.

Fuller told KPTV that a large part of the town of about 10,000 people, including homes and businesses, was affected by the evacuation. The Oregon Coast Aquarium closed for the rest of Sunday. Gomberg said it was not yet known whether local schools would cancel classes Monday, according to OPB.

Mayor Jan Kaplan called the company a major employer and said the damage could not yet be estimated. "Pacific Seafoods is a critical part of our economy," Kaplan said, according to OPB.

In a statement reported by KPTV, company vice president Ashton Meier said Pacific Seafood was devastated and expected the fire to be a major loss. He said the company would work with public safety officials to determine the cause and extent of the damage.

Compiled by True News from reporting by OPB, Live 5 News, 1011 Now and WKYT. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/466