Newport Seafood Plant’s Ammonia Tank Appears Intact After Fire Sparked Fears of a Deadly Leak

NEWPORT, Ore. — Evacuations were put in place on Sunday, October 25, after a big fire at a Pacific Seafood facility on Newport’s historic waterfront raised concerns that fire-damaged refrigeration equipment could release dangerous ammonia into the surrounding area.

By the sheriff’s final Sunday evening update, evacuation restrictions had been lifted except for a short stretch of Bay Boulevard.

Ammonia Tank Appears Intact as Hazmat Crews Assess Chemical Threat

The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized a hazardous-materials team and additional firefighting resources after the blaze was reported. Anhydrous ammonia is used in the facility’s refrigeration, prompting concerns about the possible consequences of a leak.

Ammonia exposure can cause serious injury — high concentrations can cause death through throat swelling or chemical burns to the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office initially ordered evacuations within a one-mile radius of the facility. Additional firefighters and equipment were also mobilized to support local crews as they continued battling the fire.

In an afternoon update, the State Fire Marshal’s office reported that the ammonia tank had been found and did not appear to be punctured or leaking. Hazmat Team 05, from the Linn-Benton area, was monitoring the air with specialized equipment and modeling potential impacts to help guide evacuation decisions.

Most Evacuation Restrictions Lifted as Smaller Waterfront Closure Remains

By Sunday evening, authorities had lifted evacuation restrictions in most of the affected areas, except a smaller zone around the waterfront facility.

In its final Sunday update, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Bay Boulevard remained closed between Hatfield Drive and Port Dock One, next to Clearwater Restaurant, with businesses in that stretch still evacuated. The evacuation point at Atonement Lutheran Church had closed. The county’s evacuation map shows current restrictions.

Notwithstanding that the tank appeared intact, emergency crews continued assessing the situation. This incident spotlighted the risks of a damaged tank that could turn a building fire into a wider public-safety emergency when fires threaten industrial refrigeration systems containing hazardous chemicals.