Firefighters have taken a defensive posture while battling a 2-alarm fire at the Pacific Seafood processing plant in Warrenton.
“It’s a big fire,’’ said Paul Gascoigne, deputy chief for the Astoria Fire Department.
Gascoigne said fire departments from Warrenton, Astoria, Lewis and Clark Fire District and Gearhart were dispatched to fight the fire, which broke out at around 10:45 a.m.; a second alarm was called a short time later.
Fire officials are taking a defensive stance because of the danger from ammonia, which is used in processing seafood, officials said.
“Everyone is out of the plant and safe,” said Laurie Jurinek, marketing and public relations manager for the company. Jurinek said the plant usually employs about 100 people. About 130 workers were in the plant when the fire broke out.
She said initial indications are that the fire may have started in one of the plant’s large coolers.
The plant is located at 450 NE Skipanon Drive. According to its website, Pacific Seafoods has 37 facilities and employs 2,500 people in seven states. The company headquarters are in Clackamas.
The company's CEO issued the statement Tuesday afternoon:
“Our Warrenton facility has suffered a devastating fire. First and foremost, we are grateful that no one has been hurt. We are also grateful for the first responders in Clatsop County who fought the fire and managed the situation. 2013 marks our 30th year of operation in Clatsop County, and we plan to be there for many years to come. In the immediate term, we will utilize our other facilities in the region and the kind offers of our many friends to keep our Warrenton team-members and fishermen working and our customers served. We will announce the details of our actions in the next few days. We will also assess the damage to our facility and seek answers to the cause of the fire. Rest assured, we will do our best to keep our team-members, customers and a supportive community informed every step of the way.” -- Frank Dulcich, CEO, Pacific Seafood
