A massive fire tore through Medline Industries‘ distribution warehouse in Tracy, California, on Thursday, fully engulfing the roughly one-million-square-foot facility and raising concerns about medical supply chains across the country.
South San Joaquin County Fire Authority crews responded at approximately 1:00 p.m. to a roof fire at the Medline Distribution Center at 5701 Promontory Parkway, south of Interstate 205. Fire Chief Randall Bradley said crews arrived to find the warehouse’s sprinkler system nonfunctional, water pressure at the hydrants inside the complex too low, and dry, windy conditions that allowed the blaze to race across the roof and into the building.
Multiple explosions rang out, and Bradley confirmed they came from truck tires and products stored inside.
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The fire briefly spread to a neighbouring FedEx facility, igniting pallets and containers outside. FedEx said the fire had not reached its building. Additional spot fires broke out near Schulte Road, Larch Road, and Tracy Municipal Airport — all were contained. Tracy declared a local emergency.
Mayor Dan Arriola confirmed no mandatory evacuations were in place, though nearby businesses self-evacuated. No injuries were reported. Medline confirmed all employees and on-site personnel were accounted for.
Medline describes itself as the largest provider of medical-surgical products to all points of care in the United States, distributing to hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Sutter Health and other health systems said they were monitoring the situation closely. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
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