What began as a routine drug evidence burn ended in chaos at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter in Billings, Montana. FBI agents brought two pounds of seized methamphetamine to the facility’s incinerator. Instead of venting outside, smoke drifted back into the shelter, filling hallways and animal rooms. Fourteen staff members were taken to the hospital after inhaling the toxic fumes, according to BBC News.

The incinerator is primarily used to dispose of animal remains collected by the city’s animal control division. But local officials said it is also used “every couple of months” to burn narcotics for law enforcement agencies. This time, a fan meant to reverse airflow was not available, Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland confirmed to the Associated Press.

Fourteen shelter workers were hospitalized after meth smoke exposure.

Shelter Staff and Animals Exposed

Shelter director Triniti Halverson said employees first assumed the haze was from burning carcasses.

“I had an intense headache and sore throat,” she told CBS News, adding that others experienced dizziness, sweating, and coughing. “Not a party.”

Staff members rushed to get animals out, many wearing masks while guiding dogs and carrying cats outside. About 75 pets were evacuated or placed in foster care. Four litters of kittens trapped in a closed room with heavy smoke exposure remain under close watch.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on the kittens,” Halverson said.

Seventy-five cats and dogs were evacuated or fostered.

Medical Response and Ongoing Symptoms

The 14 exposed workers were transported to a hospital, where most spent several hours in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The treatment aimed to counter the effects of smoke inhalation. According to Halverson, some symptoms have lingered for staff days after the incident. Even FBI agents on site were told by their supervisor to seek medical evaluation, though a city animal control officer declined.

The workers did not realize the smoke contained methamphetamine until a city official phoned them while they were already at the hospital. This revelation left staff shaken and demanding answers.

Workers experienced dizziness, headaches, and sore throats.

Fallout and Shelter Closure

The Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter has been closed since the incident. Specialists are now testing the building for contamination before any remediation can begin. Andrew Newman of Newman Restoration told local reporters that the cleanup will be unlike a typical meth lab case because it involves a large commercial facility with different exposure risks, CBS News reports.

For staff and volunteers, the closure means disrupted adoptions, halted medical care, and uncertainty about long-term safety. Halverson called the experience “heartbreaking” and urged community members to donate supplies such as food, blankets, and bottles to support displaced animals.

Community Anger and Questions

Residents in Billings are demanding accountability. Donor Jay Ettlemen expressed frustration after delivering dog food, asking the Associated Press, “Why the hell are they destroying drugs inside the city limits? There’s so many other places in the middle of nowhere.”

City officials are now investigating whether the incinerator reached the correct operating temperature and why standard ventilation safeguards failed.

“We have to ensure this never happens again,” Iffland said.

For the shelter’s staff, the incident has left lasting unease. As Halverson told reporters, “My team and my animals had been confirmed to have been exposed to meth.” Their priority now is recovery, safety, and preventing another crisis.