Key facts
- A 1 million-square-foot medical equipment warehouse in Tracy, California, was destroyed by a fire.
- The warehouse supplied medical equipment to area hospitals and is owned by Medline.
- Firefighters were hampered by the facility's non-working sprinkler system and hydrants.
- The fire broke out around 1 p.m. Thursday and led to a defensive firefighting approach.
- Embers from the blaze sparked secondary fires at a nearby FedEx facility.
Firefighters were hindered by non-functioning sprinkler systems and hydrants at a massive medical equipment warehouse in Tracy, California, that was destroyed by a blaze on Thursday. The 1 million-square-foot facility, owned by Medline, supplied medical equipment to area hospitals.
Authorities stated that the failure appeared to be with the facility's internal water system, not the city's supply. The fire broke out around 1 p.m. Thursday, and crews found the building's sprinkler system was not operational and hydrants on the property lacked water pressure. Tracy Deputy Fire Chief Brian Bagley noted that little to no water was flowing through either system, forcing firefighters to adopt a defensive approach as the building became engulfed within 40 minutes.
Embers from the warehouse fire ignited two grass fires and set pallets and multiple big rig trailers at a nearby FedEx facility ablaze. Firefighters managed to contain these secondary fires. The cause of the main blaze is under investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Officials noted that the sprinkler system had been tested in January by an outside company and no issues were reported.
The warehouse is located in a large industrial park that also houses distribution centers for Amazon and Home Depot. No homes were evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Residents near the fire were advised to stay indoors as a precaution, though air quality tests did not indicate grave concerns.