Firefighters contained the blaze to a freezer facility as officials narrowed evacuation zones after determining ammonia tanks were stable.
NEWPORT, OR — A large fire at a Pacific Seafood facility on Newport’s historic Bayfront forced residents and businesses to evacuate Sunday as firefighters worked to keep flames away from ammonia tanks used at the seafood operation.
The fire was reported about 8:51 a.m. Oct. 25 at a Pacific Seafood freezer facility along Yaquina Bay. Officials initially ordered evacuations within a 1-mile radius because of concern that ammonia used for refrigeration could be released into the air. The evacuation area was later reduced to several blocks around the plant after crews determined the tanks were stable and had not been punctured.
Firefighters from departments across Lincoln County and other Oregon communities responded to the blaze, along with a hazardous materials team sent by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Crews used air-monitoring equipment while firefighters poured water onto the building. Officials said the fire was contained to the roughly 11,000-square-foot facility and had not spread to nearby buildings.
Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy said the condition of the building limited firefighters’ ability to enter safely. Part of the structure collapsed during the fire, and crews continued working from outside as smoke rose over the Bayfront. By Sunday evening, officials said the ammonia tanks were stable and the threat of a larger chemical release had been reduced.
About 30 to 40 people were inside the facility when the fire started, according to city officials. Pacific Seafood said all of its employees were accounted for. The Associated Press reported that one firefighter was taken to a hospital for exhaustion, while no other injuries were reported. Authorities had not announced a cause of the fire Sunday night.
The initial evacuation covered a large part of Newport’s waterfront, including homes, businesses and Port of Newport facilities. The Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center were among facilities that closed as a precaution. A shelter first established at Sam Case Elementary School was later moved farther from the fire to Atonement Lutheran Church.
Officials said small amounts of ammonia were detected in smoke earlier in the response, but the greater concern was that fire or structural damage could rupture tanks inside the building. The Oregon State Fire Marshal said a hazardous materials team found the ammonia tank it examined did not appear to be punctured or leaking. Crews continued monitoring the air as smoke from the damaged building remained a concern.
The fire disrupted Newport’s Bayfront, an area that combines commercial fishing operations with restaurants, shops and tourist attractions. Police restricted access to parts of the waterfront while emergency crews worked. The U.S. Coast Guard also helped keep marine traffic away from the response area.
Pacific Seafood said the damaged building housed ice and freezer operations. Ashton Meier, the company’s vice president of resource sales and processing, said the company expected the fire to result in a major loss. The company said it planned to work with public safety agencies to determine the cause, assess damage and identify any remaining hazards once emergency operations allowed investigators to enter.
Fire crews remained at the plant Sunday night, and officials continued to advise people near the affected area to monitor emergency notices and avoid smoke. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, and authorities had not released a final damage estimate.
Author note: Last updated October 25, 2026.