Fifteen hospitalized after toxic meth smoke fills Montana animal shelter

In Billings, Montana, a hazardous incident occurred at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter when two pounds of methamphetamine were incinerated by FBI agents. This event unfolded on a Wednesday, causing a cloud of toxic smoke to fill the building, requiring the evacuation of fourteen workers from the nonprofit shelter. City officials reported that the smoke entered the facility due to negative pressure, which was exacerbated by the absence of an essential fan that could have reversed the pressure build-up. Workers assumed the smoke was from burning animal carcasses, which is a common function of the incinerator, until informed otherwise during their hospital stay. The hospital treated most staff members for several hours in an oxygen chamber due to their exposure to meth smoke, with symptoms including intense headaches, sore throats, dizziness, and coughing. Many of the shelter's 75 animals—dogs and cats—were relocated or placed in foster homes as a precautionary measure. City officials, including Billings Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland and shelter director Triniti Halverson, were involved in the incident's management and response. The FBI's practice of incinerating drug evidence is routine, but the situation raised serious concerns among local residents. For instance, Jay Ettlemen, a Billings resident, expressed anger over drugs being destroyed within city limits, suggesting that safer, more isolated locations should be used instead. Additionally, officials are still investigating whether the incinerator operated at the appropriate temperature during the drug burn, which is designated to prevent the emission of toxins. As the animal shelter shares a space with the city's animal control division, the implications of this incident extend beyond the immediate health crisis, prompting questions about procedures surrounding dangerous materials and the safety of the workers and animals involved. The scrutiny of these circumstances could lead to revised protocols or changes in site selection for future drug burns by federal agents.