Newport Orders Expanded Evacuation After Fire at Seafood Processing Plant
Qwenews.com – Emergency officials expanded evacuations in Newport, Oregon, on Sunday after a fire at a seafood processing facility raised concerns about possible ammonia contamination in the surrounding area.
The incident involved the Pacific Seafood plant in the coastal city, where firefighters were seen directing water onto the building. Newport’s population is just over 10,000, and the evacuation area was widened to include homes as emergency crews continued work at the scene.
One-Mile Area Placed Under Highest Evacuation Notice
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Level 3 evacuation notices were in effect within a one-mile radius of the plant. That is the highest evacuation designation, instructing people inside the affected zone to leave without delay.
Officials initially ordered evacuations across a half-mile area centered on Newport’s Bayfront district. The Bayfront is largely commercial, with visitor-oriented businesses and comparatively fewer residences. The later expansion to one mile brought nearby residential neighborhoods into the evacuation perimeter.
John Fuller, a city spokesperson, estimated that hundreds of people had been required to evacuate. Although Newport is in its tourism off season, the city continues to receive weekend visitors, making public warnings important for both residents and people traveling through the area.
Authorities also urged people to stay away from the fire scene while the response remained active. US 20 was closed from Harney Street West to US 101, affecting a route through the city and potentially complicating local travel.
Residents Urged to Limit Outdoor Exposure
In an update posted at 10:34 a.m. PT, city officials said the evacuation was tied to the possibility of ammonia contamination originating from the plant. People who remained elsewhere in Newport were advised to stay indoors when possible.
The evacuation is due to a potential ammonia contamination in the area from the plant.
We recommend staying inside if you are in Newport today. If you must go outside, you should wear a mask. Updates will continue to be made on this post.
The warning reflects the fact that the potential contamination concern had not been resolved as the emergency continued. Residents outside the evacuation zone were asked to pay close attention to official updates, particularly if conditions changed or the affected area grew again.
For people instructed to leave, Newport officials opened a shelter at Sam Case Elementary School. The shelter offered a designated location for evacuees displaced by the evacuation order while crews addressed the fire and assessed the area around the facility.
Company Says Employees Accounted For
Pacific Seafood said it was not aware of any injuries and that all employees had been accounted for. The company said its immediate attention remained on assisting emergency personnel and protecting people near the operation.
However, the situation is still ongoing and we are focused on supporting emergency responders to help ensure everyone is safe.
Firefighters remained visible at the plant as they worked to control conditions at the building. The combination of an industrial fire, a potential chemical hazard and a broadened evacuation area required coordination between city officials, the sheriff’s office, responders and the company.
Ammonia can be used in industrial refrigeration systems, including food-processing operations. In an emergency involving a possible release, public safety guidance may focus on getting people away from the immediate area, reducing time outdoors and following evacuation instructions. The specific scope of any contamination in Newport had not been confirmed in the information released Sunday morning.
People in or near the evacuation area should follow the Level 3 order, avoid traveling toward the plant and use the city’s designated shelter if needed. Those elsewhere in Newport were advised to remain indoors when practical and wear a mask if they needed to go outside.
Officials said further updates would be posted as the situation developed. The fire response, evacuation boundaries and road closure remained subject to change while emergency crews continued their work.
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