A hazardous-materials threat brings firefighters from across Oregon to Newport's historic bayfront before conditions improve Sunday evening.
AT A GLANCE
Incident: Pacific Seafood processing plant fire, Newport
Date: October 25, 2026
Evacuations: One-mile Level 3 (GO NOW) zone initially ordered; most restrictions lifted by evening
Hazmat: Potential ammonia release; storage tank appeared intact
Response: Newport Fire, regional mutual aid, and state hazmat team
Injuries: No employee injuries reported; one firefighter hospitalized for exhaustion
Status: Firefighting continued Sunday evening; cause undetermined
NEWPORT, Ore. — A major fire at a Pacific Seafood processing facility along Newport's historic bayfront Sunday prompted widespread evacuations, a hazardous-materials response, and the mobilization of firefighters from across Oregon.
The fire was reported shortly before 9 a.m. October 25 at 213 SW Bay Boulevard, near Yaquina Bay. Crews encountered a large industrial structure fire involving an approximately 11,000-square-foot building.
Active Fire at Newport Seafood Plant Firefighters direct multiple water streams toward the Pacific Seafood facility as flames remain visible inside the damaged structure. The October 25 fire required assistance from agencies across the region. Photo: Oregon State Fire Marshal.
Firefighters faced difficult conditions as the blaze damaged the facility, making portions of the structure unsafe to enter. Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy told Oregon Public Broadcasting that the building's interior was too dangerous for firefighters to access.
The fire also raised concerns about anhydrous ammonia used in the plant's refrigeration system, prompting Lincoln County officials to order Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations within a one-mile radius.
The evacuation area affected residential neighborhoods, businesses, and portions of Newport's historic bayfront, a center of commercial fishing, seafood processing, and tourism.
Cover Photo / Aerial Crews Attack Newport Fire Firefighters use elevated ladders and ground-level hoses to suppress the October 25 fire at Pacific Seafood along Newport's historic bayfront. Photo: Oregon State Fire Marshal.
AMMONIA THREAT PROMPTS HAZMAT RESPONSE
Anhydrous ammonia is commonly used in industrial refrigeration but can pose serious health risks if released into the air. Exposure can cause severe irritation and chemical burns to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. High concentrations can cause serious lung injuries and potentially fatal breathing difficulties.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal deployed Linn-Benton State Hazmat Team 05 to monitor air conditions and assess the potential for a hazardous release.
"The ammonia tank has been found and, thankfully, doesn't appear to be punctured or leaking," State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said Sunday afternoon.
Officials later reported that the tank remained stable, and the reduced risk of an ammonia release allowed the hazmat team to be released Sunday evening.
Mutual-Aid Firefighters in Newport Firefighters work among engines, hoses, and aerial apparatus during the coordinated response to the Pacific Seafood plant fire on October 25. Photo: Corvallis Fire Department.
FIREFIGHTERS MOBILIZED FROM ACROSS OREGON
The size and complexity of the fire brought assistance from multiple agencies through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System.
Corvallis Fire sent an aerial apparatus and personnel to assist, while the state fire marshal mobilized a Marion County task force consisting of four engines and a ladder truck to provide relief for firefighters working throughout the day.
A five-engine strike team from Lane County was also requested for Monday morning, but that deployment was canceled after firefighters made significant progress controlling the blaze.
By Sunday evening, crews had substantially reduced the fire, although operations continued at the damaged facility.
Newport Bayfront Evacuation Status A Lincoln County evacuation map shows the remaining Level 3 (GO NOW) area near the Pacific Seafood facility on Sunday evening, October 25. Most earlier evacuation orders had been lifted as conditions improved. Map: Lincoln County, Oregon.
EVACUATIONS REDUCED AS CONDITIONS IMPROVE
Evacuation boundaries changed throughout Sunday as emergency officials assessed fire conditions and the potential ammonia threat. First evacuations include a one-mile radius surrounding the processing facility.
Some evacuation areas were expanded during the afternoon, while others were reduced from Level 3 (GO NOW) to Level 2 (Be Set).
An evacuation center was initially established at Sam Case Elementary School before being moved to Atonement Lutheran Church on North Coast Highway, where displaced residents were allowed to bring pets.
By late Sunday, most evacuation orders had been lifted, and the temporary shelter had closed.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reported that Bay Boulevard remained closed between Hatfield Drive and Port Dock One, near the Clearwater Restaurant. Businesses within that section remained evacuated.
EMPLOYEES ESCAPE, DAMAGE ASSESSMENT CONTINUES
Approximately 30 to 40 employees were inside the Pacific Seafood facility when the fire began, according to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. All were safely evacuated.
No injuries among plant employees were reported. The Associated Press reported that one firefighter was hospitalized for exhaustion during the response.
The fire caused extensive damage to the seafood processing facility, although the full extent of the destruction had not been determined Sunday evening.
The cause of the fire also remained under investigation.
Pacific Seafood is a significant part of Newport's commercial fishing and seafood processing industry, with operations along the city's historic waterfront.
Firefighters continued working at the scene Sunday evening, with additional crews assigned to provide relief overnight as officials maintained restrictions around the damaged facility.
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