Overview

• The incident occurred Wednesday during destruction of seized drugs in a city-owned incinerator located with the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter.
• Fourteen employees reported symptoms and were treated at a clinic, and roughly 75 animals were moved to other facilities or foster homes.
• The shelter remains closed for testing and cleanup, with a restoration team on site and a shelter statement citing more than 40 contamination hotspots.
• Local authorities are investigating ventilation performance and whether the oven reached proper temperatures, as well as who authorized its use for drug destruction.
• The FBI says drug disposal is typically handled at external facilities, and city leaders report the pressure problem has been identified and corrective steps are underway.