Smoke from burning meth in a city crematorium forced a Montana animal shelter to evacuate 75 animals and send staff for hospital treatment.
The Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter in Billings, Montana, evacuated about 75 animals after smoke from burning narcotics seeped into its building on Wednesday. The smoke originated from a crematorium shared with the city’s animal control, where two pounds of methamphetamine were destroyed, officials said.
Shelter executive director Triniti Halverson said staff and animals were exposed when fumes entered through a feline isolation room. “I and 13 other staffers were exposed to the methamphetamine smoke and several got sick,” Halverson noted. Staff sought hospital treatment, and the most affected animals were relocated to another facility and a local veterinary clinic.
Billings police said narcotics are destroyed on a set schedule with health department notification, but smoke leaked due to negative air pressure. Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland told the Associated Press that a fan meant to disperse the fumes was “not readily available.” The shelter will remain closed two weeks to a month for decontamination.
READ MORE AT THE WASHINGTON TIMES