Meth burn by FBI smokes out Montana animal shelter

By MATTHEW BROWN BILLINGS Mont AP A cloud of smoke from two pounds of methamphetamine seized by the FBI and incinerated inside a Montana animal shelter prompted its evacuation and sent workers to the hospital city executives in Billings reported The smoke started to fill the building during a drug burn on Wednesday apparently because of negative pressure that sucked it back inside Billings Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland announced Friday A fan was supposed to be on hand in such situations to reverse the pressure so smoke would flow out of the building but Iffland commented it wasn t readily available The incinerator is used primarily to burn the carcasses of animals euthanized or collected by the city s animal control division But every couple of months local law enforcement or FBI agents use it to burn seized narcotics Iffland commented Fourteen workers from the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter went to the hospital as a precaution he stated The dogs and cats at the shelter were relocated or put into foster homes Animal crates sit outside the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter on Friday Sept in Billings Mont AP Photo Matthew Brown Chosen workers had responses such as not feeling well I don t know if it was from the smoke inhalation or exactly what it was Iffland explained Billings resident Jay Ettlemen went to the shelter on Friday to donate dog food and disclosed he was angry when he uncovered out about the drug burns Why the hell are they destroying drugs inside the city limits Ettlemen solicited There s so a large number of other places in the middle of nowhere The FBI routinely uses outside facilities to conduct controlled drug evidence burns agency spokesperson Sandra Barker declared She referred further questions to Billings officers A sign is posted on the door of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter on Friday Sept in Billings Mont AP Photo Matthew Brown A city animal control supervisor who was present for Wednesday s burn declined to go the hospital Iffland disclosed The FBI agents were informed to go to the hospital by their supervisor The incinerator is meant to operate at a certain temperature so it doesn t emit toxins Iffland announced functionaries were trying to determine if it was at the appropriate temperature Wednesday The shelter will remain closed until it can be tested for contamination Shelter workers were tested for probable exposure and Iffland noted he did not know the results