Evacuations ordered within a mile of seafood factory fire on Newport’s Bayfront

Parts of the Newport Bayfront were evacuated Sunday morning after a large fire and ammonia leak at one of Pacific Seafood’s plants threatened the commercial and tourist area along Yaquina Bay.

Newport firefighters were dispatched at 8:51 a.m. Sunday and quickly called for help from departments throughout Lincoln County. By mid-morning Sunday, 40 firefighters were on site.

The city has implemented emergency procedures and is evacuating other businesses and homes within a mile radius of the seafood plant.

Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy confirmed there was ammonia in the smoke from the fire, but he did not know to what extent. It was the acrid smoke and the threat of ammonia that prompted the evacuation.

Murphy said there was a partial roof collapse inside the Pacific Seafood plant.

“It’s going to be a long operation,” Murphy told the Lincoln Chronicle.

No injuries were reported.

The city is setting up three staging areas for anyone evacuated from the area: Sam Case Elementary School, City Hall and the county courthouse.

The Lincoln County School District announced Sunday that it was closing its Newport schools to the public “out of an abundance of caution.”

Garret Jaros

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Chronicle of Lincoln