Emergency crews in Newport, Oregon, lifted most evacuation orders Sunday afternoon after a stubborn fire damaged a historic Pacific Seafood freezer building and prompted initial fears of an ammonia leak, though officials confirmed the facility’s ammonia tanks remained stable.
Dispatchers received the first calls reporting a fire at 213 SW Bay Blvd. just before 9 a.m. Sunday, according to local authorities, as thick smoke billowed across Newport’s historic Bayfront. The blaze struck an approximately 11,000-square-foot building that has stood on the site since 1946, used to freeze and store seafood.
The city initially advised anyone within a one-mile radius to evacuate immediately under Level 3 Go Now
orders as authorities scrambled to contain potential ammonia contamination.
Dave Eckleman, a local resident, We’d rather be home but ammonia is no joke,
Dave Eckleman said after taking only their keys and phones and evacuating.
Hazmat Teams Check Facility Ammonia Tanks
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple noted in a news release that the ammonia tank had been found and did not appear to be punctured or leaking, after dozens of firefighters from Newport and Corvallis attacked the stubborn blaze with ladder trucks and engines, alongside specialized hazardous-materials personnel deployed by the Oregon State Fire Marshal to monitor air quality.
City spokesperson John Fuller confirmed during a Sunday afternoon press conference that while small traces of ammonia were detected in early smoke, they remained at non-harmful levels. By mid-afternoon, officials determined the risk had been successfully mitigated. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office scaled back the evacuation footprint to just a few blocks surrounding the site, while the emergency shelter originally opened at Sam Case Elementary School was relocated to Atonement Lutheran Church along U.S. Highway 101.
Fire Damages Pacific Seafood Facility
Mayor Jan Kaplan described Pacific Seafood as a critical part of our economy during the Sunday afternoon briefing, noting its role as a major employer in the city of roughly 10,000 residents.
Ashton Meier, vice president of resource sales and processing for Pacific Seafood, released a statement confirming that approximately 30 to 40 workers inside the building when the fire started were safely evacuated and accounted for.
Pacific Seafood is devastated by today’s fire in Newport. 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.
Ashton Meier, vice president of resource sales and processing for Pacific Seafood
Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy confirmed that the fire did not spread to the facility’s main plant, though the freezer building sustained heavy damage. Authorities reported no injuries among civilians, though one firefighter was evaluated and treated for exhaustion. Neighboring institutions also adjusted operations out of caution; the Oregon Coast Aquarium closed for the day, while Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital remained open.
Investigators Probe Newport Fire Cause
Emergency crews remained stationed along Bay Boulevard into Sunday evening to address lingering hot spots and manage road closures between Hatfield Drive and Port Dock One. Chief Murphy emphasized that investigators could not establish an official cause until firefighters completely extinguished the structure. Public safety agencies announced they will coordinate with company leadership to examine the site and review safety protocols once the scene is fully secured, leaving investigators to determine exactly what sparked the blaze.