A massive fire that tore through a medical equipment warehouse near Tracy on Friday was exacerbated by a non-functional sprinkler system and dry hydrants on the property, authorities reported. The blaze, which broke out around 1 p.m.
at a Medline distribution center, quickly engulfed the 1 million-square-foot facility, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and embers flying for miles. Tracy Deputy Fire Chief Brian Bagley stated that firefighters arriving at the scene found the building's sprinkler system inoperable and the on-site hydrants lacking water pressure.
A fire official discovered little to no water flowing through either system, forcing crews to connect to city hydrants instead. Within 40 minutes, the warehouse was fully involved, and firefighters shifted to a defensive strategy, protecting surrounding structures.
The facility had been evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Medline, a major supplier of medical-surgical products including latex gloves, masks, surgical instruments, wheelchairs, catheters, and hospital beds, operates over 50 distribution centers nationwide.
The company confirmed that the Tracy facility primarily served Northern California hospitals and has activated a contingency plan, reassigning product distribution to other regional warehouses to maintain customer service. Embers from the blaze ignited two grass fires and set pallets and multiple big rig trailers ablaze at a nearby FedEx facility, though firefighters quickly extinguished those secondary fires.
Overnight, crews continued to battle new fires in trailers loaded with supplies. Bagley noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will assist in investigating the cause, but authorities may not be able to enter the warehouse for several days.
The sprinkler system had been tested by an outside company in January with no issues found. The warehouse is located in a large industrial park that also houses fulfillment and distribution centers for Amazon, Home Depot, and FedEx.
No homes were evacuated, but officials advised nearby residents to stay indoors as a precaution. Air quality tests have not raised grave concerns, Bagley said.