A crazy incident occurred last Wednesday at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter when smoke emersed from the incineration of two pounds of seized methamphetamine. This caused multiple of the animal shelter workers to be hospitalized. The drug burn of a routine procedure conducted by the FBI. Unexpectedly the smoke filled the shelter and made fourteen employees very sick.
The incineration was happening inside the shelter which shares space with the Billing’s animal control division. The shelter’s primary function is to care for and euthanize animals. Law enforcement occasionally uses its incinerator to burn seized narcotics. According to assistant city administrator Kevin Iffland the incinerator is designed to operate at specific temperatures to prevent toxin emissions. Investigators are still trying to figure out whether it was functioning correctly or not during the burn.
The incident occurred because of negative pressure inside the building which caused the meth smoke to be drawn back inside instead of outside. The staff initially thought the smoke was from animal carcasses because they were unaware of the drug burn. Symptoms then started happening like headaches, sore throats, dizziness, and sweating which led the workers to evacuate and go to the hospital where they were put into oxygen chambers. Additionally, four litters of kittens were also exposed to the smoke.
The shelter remains closed as officials test to see if there is any chemical residue. FBI spokesperson Sandra Barker explained that the bureau regularly conducts controlled drug burns at outside facilities and the incident at the shelter was an abnormality. The incident sparked concern among residents like Jay Ettleman who questioned why such a dangerous procedure was performed within city limits, “There are so many other places in the middle of nowhere” he said.
The shelter will stay closed until testing confirms if it’s safe to reopen. Authorities are still trying to figure out what went wrong during the burn.
