Authorities lifted nearly all evacuation orders after a fire broke out at a major seafood plant in Newport, Oregon, raising concerns of ammonia contamination.
The fire was reported on the morning of Oct. 25 in Newport, a coastal city about 130 miles southwest of Portland. Authorities issued a level 3 “go now” evacuation for a 1 mile radius around the Pacific Seafood plant, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. Videos of the facility showed plumes of white smoke billowing into the air as firefighters arrived at the scene.
By the afternoon, crews managed to access the site and determined that the "risk of an ammonia leak or spill has been mitigated."
“The ammonia tank has been found and, thankfully, doesn’t appear to be punctured or leaking,”
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a news release, according to the Statesman Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
City officials said 30 to 40 people were inside the building at the time of the fire. Each of them was accounted for and none were harmed, the city said. One firefighter was treated for exhaustion.
Firefighters were still working to contain the fire on the night of Oct. 25, and city officials recommended people wear masks outdoors to reduce the potential for smoke exposure. A street near the site of the fire remains under an evacuation order.
Ammonia is a toxic, colorless compound that can severely burn the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long-term health effects from exposure include potentially permanent lung damage.
Several hazmat crews responded to the facility, where anhydrous ammonia is used in refrigeration. The teams used specialized equipment to monitor the air.
"While small traces of ammonia were present in the smoke early this morning, they were at non-harmful levels. Evacuation was precautionary at the risk of a larger leak or spill," the city said.
Along with the hazmat crews, about 60 firefighters responded to the scene, including many from neighboring counties. The Oregon State Fire Marshal, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Newport Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office were also among the agencies that assisted in the emergency response, the city said.
Pacific Seafood describes itself as a large, family-owned seafood processor, distributor and aquaculture company. It's headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, and employs more than 3,000 workers across 11 states.
Contributing: Jonathan Williams, Statesman Journal
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Most evacuations lifted after fire at seafood plant in Newport, Oregon
