FBI Meth Burn Forces Montana Animal Shelter Evacuation, Hospitalizes 14 Staff

The Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter in Billings, Montana, was evacuated and temporarily closed after a drug burn involving two pounds of methamphetamine by the FBI caused smoke to fill the shelter, leading to 14 workers being hospitalized as a precaution. The smoke intrusion was reportedly due to negative pressure inside the building, which reversed airflow and pulled smoke from the incinerator back inside; a fan intended to prevent this was unavailable at the time. The incinerator, primarily used for burning animal carcasses, is also utilized every few months by law enforcement, including the FBI, to destroy seized narcotics, a practice that has led to repeated smoke issues over the past year. Shelter officials and residents expressed concern and frustration about the location of drug burns within city limits, especially since the smoke endangered both staff and animals, forcing the relocation or fostering of all pets. City authorities are investigating whether the incinerator operated at the proper temperature during the burn, as it is designed to prevent toxic emissions when functioning correctly. The incident highlights tensions between law enforcement drug disposal methods and animal shelter operations, prompting calls for reconsideration of where and how narcotics burns are conducted.