This story was originally published on LincolnChronicle.org and is used with permission.
Here are updates on the Newport Bayfront fire as of 11:50 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26 from the city of Newport:
- Firefighters extinguished the fire at approximately 6 o’clock Sunday but are working Monday to douse a few hot spots;
- The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office will lead the investigation into the cause of the fire assisted by the Newport Fire Department;
- There is still smoky air around Newport and the city advised residents and visitors to wear a mask if they must be outside;
- Ammonia tanks inside the building were stabilized Sunday and there is no threat or risk of contamination from them;
- Most of the Bayfront is reopened. Southwest Bay Boulevard near the plant is still closed so that fire crews can work and the investigation can take place; and
- Pacific Seafood’s other plants on the Bayfront are operating.
Monday statement from Ashton Meier, vice president of resource sales and processing for Pacific Seafood:
“We are continuing to work with officials to understand the full extent of the damage, potential causes of the fire, and any remaining effects. Although the damage from the fire is severe, at this point it appears to be limited to a single building. We are very happy to report that all of our team members are already back at work today and we are processing as usual in all of our other facilities along the Newport Bayfront. Newport is a resilient community and we are proud to be a part of it. We will come back from this setback even stronger.”
Previous version of the story, updated at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Billows of smoke enveloped Newport’s popular Bayfront for much of Sunday as dozens of firefighters from as far away as Corvallis battled a stubborn blaze and potential ammonia leak at a Pacific Seafood plant.
The threat of leaks from two tanks of ammonia inside a building used to make ice and freeze seafood prompted an evacuation notice for much of the day for a mile from the Bayfront, sending residents to a shelter and closing many businesses and tourist attractions. By mid-afternoon, the risk posed by the tanks had subsided and evacuation parameters were scaled back.
As smoke cleared it was also apparent that the 11,000 square-foot building belonging to one of Newport’s largest employers had significant damage. Its roof had partially collapsed and the building’s corrugated metal walls were warped, exposing pipe and wooden beams.
During a press conference Sunday evening, Fire Chief Rob Murphy told reporters that the fire had been the most severe the city had seen in a decade.
“Its not just the employees that might be impacted, but how that ripples into the community here,” said Mayor Jan Kaplan. “Pacific Seafood is a major employer in our community and at this point we can’t really estimate the damage.”
Although there is no active threat of ammonia and the evacuation zone was scaled back, there is still smoke in Newport and city officials recommend residents wear masks to help mitigate exposure.
It is unclear what caused the fire. Although a video on social media showed transformers exploding at the time the fire started, Murphy said the source of the fire was not yet known.
“The fire investigation part will be conducted after we’ve been able to put the fire out,” he said.
Smoke billowed out of the Pacific Seafood building, enveloping hills to the northeast of the Bayfront. Smoke could be smelled throughout the city including outside of Sam Case Elementary, which was initially set up as an evacuation center. The center was later moved farther north to Atonement Lutheran Church along U.S. Highway 101.
The city put emergency procedures into place Sunday morning and asked residents and businesses within a mile of the plant to evacuate. The evacuation area initially included all Port of Newport facilities, its RV park and marina on the south side of Yaquina Bay. The Hatfield Marine Science Center also closed. Businesses – even those along U.S. Highway 101 north of the Bayfront — shuttered for the day.
By late Sunday afternoon the “Go Now” evacuation area was narrowed to a few blocks immediately north of the burning plant.
“It is not a mandatory evacuation, but we do recommend it,” said city of Newport spokesman John Fuller. “Otherwise we are asking all Newport residents to shelter in place as a safety precaution.”
Although it sits at the edge of the evacuation zone, Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital said in a statement Sunday afternoon that an evacuation of the hospital was not necessary “due to prevailing wind conditions and the low risk of chemical involvement.”
Up to 40 workers inside
About 30-40 workers were present when a fire broke out about 8:50 a.m. Sunday. The building is one of four Pacific Seafood plants along Bay Boulevard, long heralded as a busy working port filled with fishing boats, processing plants and lots of tourist-related businesses.
More than a dozen agencies assisted in the effort to contain the fire and mitigate the risk of ammonia. Firefighters from departments throughout Lincoln County, Philomath and Corvallis poured water on the plant at 213-245 S.W. Bay Blvd. Members of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s hazardous material response team also came to help. Police blocked entrances to the Bayfront.
Early on, smoke from the fire enveloped hills to the northeast of the Bayfront. Smoke could be smelled throughout the city including outside of Sam Case Elementary, which was initially set up as an evacuation center. The center was later moved farther north to Atonement Lutheran Church along U.S. Highway 101.
The city put emergency procedures into place Sunday morning and asked residents and businesses within a mile of the plant to evacuate. The evacuation area initially included all Port of Newport facilities, its RV park and marina on the south side of Yaquina Bay. The Hatfield Marine Science Center also closed. Businesses – even those along U.S. Highway 101 north of the Bayfront — shuttered for the day.
Shortly before 2 p.m. the evacuation area was narrowed to a slice of the city radiating northeast of the Bayfront. By Sunday evening, the evacuation orders had lifted in all areas except a section of Bay Boulevard between Hatfield Drive and Clearwater Restaurant.
“It is not a mandatory evacuation, but we do recommend it,” city of Newport spokesman John Fuller said mid-day. “Otherwise we are asking all Newport residents to shelter in place as a safety precaution.”
Although it sits at the edge of the evacuation zone, Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital said in a statement Sunday afternoon that an evacuation of the hospital was not necessary “due to prevailing wind conditions and the low risk of chemical involvement.”
By Sunday night, the hazmat team had left and a task force of Marion County firefighters was called to work through the night to give local and regional crews a break. The Bayfront remains closed.
Devastated by fire
Murphy confirmed to the Lincoln Chronicle there initially was ammonia in the smoke from the fire but was unsure to what degree it posed a threat. It was the acrid smoke and threat from the ammonia that prompted the evacuation notice.
“It’s going to be a long operation,” Murphy told the Chronicle. The city said later Sunday that firefighters had “mitigated the fire risk of the two ammonia tanks in the plant.”
No injuries have been reported.
A spokesperson for Clackamas-based Pacific Seafood said in a statement to the Chronicle they were not aware of any injuries and all employees were accounted for. A company executive later said the fire was very damaging.
“Pacific Seafood is devastated by today’s fire … ,” Ashton Meier, vice president of resource sales and processing, said in a statement to the Chronicle. “Although we are still working with emergency response officials to determine the full extent of the damage, we expect that it will be a major loss. In the days ahead, we will continue to work with public safety officials to make sure they have the access and information necessary to determine the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, and any ongoing hazards or effects.”
By late Sunday morning about a dozen evacuees, many with pets, had come to the elementary school where district employees had set up food and water. That number rose to 25-30 by the time the shelter operation was moved to the church.
Caitlin Ryan, who lives on Lee Street directly north of the plant, was in her pajamas in bed when she got the evacuation order. She quickly rounded up her two children and their dog, jumped into their car and headed to the school.
“I’m just very nervous, I couldn’t get my kitten to cooperate and had to leave other pets at home,” Ryan said.
Marsha and Dave Eckleman live by the Newport Recreation Center and first found out about the fire when a neighbor called them at 9:35 a.m. They took only their phones and keys with them when they were evacuated.
“We’d rather be home but ammonia is no joke,” Dave Eckleman said.