There were no further threats of ammonia contamination, officials said Sunday afternoon, after earlier urging people to evacuate for fear of possible health risks following a fire at a seafood processing plant on the Oregon coast. Authorities responded to the fire at Pacific Seafood, a major seafood processing and distribution plant, in the city of Newport’s Bayfront neighborhood, just before 9 a.m., city spokesman John Fuller said at an afternoon news conference. As of 4 pm local time, authorities said there was no threat of ammonia contamination. The state fire marshal said an ammonia tank had been found and did not appear to be punctured or leaking. Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy said at the news conference that while traces of ammonia were initially detected, there was no ongoing risk of ammonia exposure. “Between all the firefighters and our regional hazmat team, they did a great job protecting those tanks and preventing anything worse from happening,” Murphy said. “I can tell you that the tanks are intact; they are not leaking. The product inside them is stable and will remain that way.” As of Sunday afternoon, he said, the main environmental concern was the smoke produced by the fire, which was still burning. There was still a small evacuation zone covering blocks near the fire, he said. The fire had previously prompted “level 3” evacuations — meaning “extreme danger in the area” — for those within a 1-mile radius of the plant. The city said the evacuation was “precautionary in light of the risk of a major leak or spill.” Ammonia is a clear, toxic gas or liquid, and exposure to high levels can damage the skin, eyes, throat and lungs, while exposure to very high levels can cause lung damage or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The city previously recommended that people stay indoors and wear masks if outdoors. A shelter for the displaced was set up at Atonement Lutheran Church. Authorities respond to a fire at the address of Pacific Seafood, a major seafood processing and distribution facility, in the Bayfront neighborhood of the city of Newport on Sunday. Out West PhotographyFuller said no injuries had been reported so far and there were between 30 and 40 people inside or near the facility at the time of the incident. He said during peak tourist season in the summer, there can typically be up to 200 people in the area. One firefighter was treated for exhaustion, the city said. Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan described Pacific Seafood as a critical part of the city’s economy and a “major employer.” Fuller, the city spokesman, said the fire broke out in a freezing facility where seafood is stored and did not spread to the main plant. Ashton Meier, Pacific Seafood’s vice president of sales and resource processing, said in a statement that the company was “devastated” by the fire and expects it “will be a significant loss.” “As a family-owned business, we deeply value our people and our community,” Meier said. “We are eternally grateful for the help of the emergency services today and thank them for all their efforts. We are incredibly grateful and happy to report that all of our team members on scene are safe and accounted for and at this time we are not aware of any injuries in the area.” Meier said the company will work with public safety officials to determine the cause of the fire and any hazards.
