California Firefighters Battle 1 Million-Sq-Ft Medline Blaze for 3rd Day as 5,000 Gallons a Minute Flow
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 13
California Firefighters Battle 1 Million-Sq-Ft Medline Blaze for 3rd Day as 5,000 Gallons a Minute Flow
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 13
Summary
Tracy firefighters said Saturday they are still struggling to reach the fire’s core inside Medline’s roughly 1 million-square-foot warehouse, with crews expecting several more days of work and no injuries reported.
About 5,000 gallons of water a minute are being used, but progress remains slow because crews need to secure unstable walls and move debris before they can fully attack the hottest areas.
Heavy smoke is expected to linger for days, prompting officials to urge residents—especially vulnerable people—to stay indoors, keep windows closed and avoid debris that may contain hazardous materials.
The cause remains unknown and under law-enforcement investigation; earlier firefighting was hampered by an apparently broken sprinkler system and low hydrant pressure.
Medline said most orders have already been rerouted to other distribution centers, while the warehouse is slated for demolition and eventual rebuilding at the key distribution site.